25th Eurasian Economic Summit

H.A.H. ALLAHŞÜKÜR PASHAZADEH

Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus
(Recipient of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honor, 2020)

All the Abrahamic religions instill in mankind a spirit of compassion and respect to the
environment, and warn them of the calamities, crises and trials that would otherwise occur

Distinguished Participants! At this pres- of moral criteria, of religious and cultural kind a spirit of compassion and respect to
tigious Summit, I extend my greetings values that have been present in the human the environment, and warn them of the ca-
to my dear brother, Mr Akkan Suver, Pre- mind and morality for centuries and bioet- lamities, crises and trials that would other-
sident of the Marmara Group Foundation hical problems are of concern to the entire wise occur. The sanctity of the earth, its
for Strategic and Social Research Founda- progressive world community. As a cleric, life-giving power, is forgotten, and the
tion, and I pray to Almighty Allah to bless I can say that the main source of problems water that is sent down from Heaven as a
the work of the 25th Eurasian Economic that threaten the future of mankind is the blessing from Allah is being depleted due
Summit. I give my thanks to Mr. Suver for violation of the Divine Order, and the se- to climate change and waste. Environmen-
his kind invitation and express my deep paration of people from their spiritual and tal and war crimes committed in the mo-
gratitude to all my Turk brothers for the or- moral roots. The humanitarian crises that dern world, ecosystem degradation,
ganization of the event at the highest level we are experiencing are also resulted from depletion of fertile lands, food shortages,
as well as for their exceptional hospitality. these complications. Therefore, I consider and food insecurity food insecurity are at
I also extend my special greetings also to it important that the rules of cultural and the forefront of the problems that threaten
our dear friend, the head of the Turkish- moral behavior formed over the centuries Humankind. The crisis in Ukraine has ac-
Azerbaijani Interparliamentary Friendship to be established in all spheres of our daily celerated the global food shortages and a
Group, Mr Şamil Ayrım. Greetings and my life - politics, economics, and interstate re- sharp rise in commodity prices.
best wishes to the influential statesmen and lations. Humanitarian and moral aspects
public figures, all participants of the event. should be taken into account when develo- Distinguished participants! As you
ping economic models. know, the people of Azerbaijan, under the
Allahu Taala`s advice to the people of leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-
the world is to live in the spirit of mutual Distinguished participants! The Holy Chief, have put an end to the Armenian oc-
respect and esteem for each other, for all of Qur’an states: cupation that lasted for almost 30 years and
His creatures, including the Nature. Howe- restored historical justice.The whole world
ver, in today’s globalized world, new dan- “ Do not spread corruption in the Land witnessed that the Armenian occupiers,
gerous tendencies, distortions and insults after it has been set in order.” (al-A’raf, 56). who committed the Khojaly genocide and
All the Abrahamic religions instill in man-

101

numerous war crimes, committing acts of new, modern infrastructure.
vandalism in the Azerbaijani lands and
carry out barbaric actions against our reli- Distinguished partici-
gious and cultural heritage.
pants of the Summit! We
International observers have witnessed
the urbicidal crimes, which transformed the consider the historic visit of
prosperous cities of Karabakh into ghost
towns. The scale of the environmental ca- the President of the Repub-
tastrophe is horrific. For decades they had
constantly destroyed our lands, turning lic of Türkiye Mr Recep
them unusable for agriculture, plundering
their wealth, and when they were not even Tayyip Erdogan to Azer-
ashamed from burning our lands.
baijan on the occasion of
They did not even ashamed to burn our
lands. Regular environmental crimes have Independence Day as an
been committed against our water bodies.
Armenia continues its inhumane behavior important stage in the de-
in front of the civilized world, and refuses
to hand over the maps of the land mines put velopment of fraternal rela-
during the occupation so they still take the
lives of hundreds of civilians today. Des- tions between Azerbaijan
pite all this, the Azerbaijani state, thanks to
the strong political will of our leader Ilham and Türkiye in all areas at
Aliyev, is restoring towns and villages in
liberated Karabakh, turning them into flo- the highest level. Undoub-
werbeds, rebuilding destroyed mosques
and temples of other religions. The Azer- tedly, such events as the
baijani state is implementing large-scale
model projects in the liberated territories to Technofest, which de-
build smart cities and villages that meet
modern requirements, to restore the ecolo- monstrates to the world our
gical balance in the process of building
success in science, techno-

logy and defense industry,

open a new page in the re-

gion for the future of our Hon. Turan Sarıgülle extended the gratitude of the
peoples and states. Marmara Group Foundation to H.A.H Allahşükür
Pasazadeh Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the
May Allah Almighty al- Caucasus(Recipient of the Marmara Group
ways bless our brotherly Foundation Medal of Honor, 2020)
states! We pray for Allah to
rest the souls of all the

martyrs of Türkiye and wish success to the work of the Eurasian

Azerbaijan. Distinguished Summit partici- Economic Summit and thank the organi-

pants! I hope that today’s meeting will con- zers of the forum. Wassalamu aleykum wa

tribute to the efforts and actions that serve rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

the economic progress of the world and the

welfare of peoples, inshallah. I once again

FROM THE SUMMIT

Hon. Dr. Akkan Suver, H.E. Milo Dukanovic, H. E. Binali Yıldırım,
Hon. Mme. Müjgan Suver, Hon. Mr. Şamil Ayrım at the 25th Euraisan Economic Summit
102

The Very Rev. Grand Ecclesiarch AETIOS

Director of the Private Patriarchal Office

This is very simple but at the same time the most difficult lesson to learn here. We must unders-
tand each other. Likewise, another fundamental lesson to be learned is that we, our generation,

need to leave a cleaner, healthier and more beautiful legacy

H.A.H. Bartholomew apologized for important than before. We need this net when addressing the issues here,
not being able to come this morning. Summit more than ever before. There is while addressing war and peace.
He asked me to read this paper, this add- a solid foundation here, it has more ho-
ress, on his behalf. nest encounters and it is about changes. Our world is our home and it must
Because our world can no longer tolerate continue for all people and all beings. We
I will give this speech on behalf of the isolation, and can no longer withstand cannot leave anything out. We must em-
restoration of global peace in the world. alienation. brace everyone whose whole life has
This is the 25th Eurasian Economic Sum- been affected, everyone who has been
mit and it is organized by the Marmara Here peace will take place in a general wronged. As our community, we must
Group Foundation. Here I would like to way. For peace, we need to develop dia- directly admit that we may have suppor-
thank Akkan Suver. We have administra- logue and communication first, which is ted violence against our sisters and brot-
tors here, we have leading names, and we very important because key features and hers here, but also the militant
have institutions. developments supported by religious movements that made people refugees.
communities.
We have to think about the momentous Climate change, food shortages and
situations we are currently facing, that We can support peace here, we can try the energy crisis, these are the situations
our planet and ourselves are facing. to achieve peace, we can provide certain we are finally facing. Here, we have
About Paris Agreement and Russia who conditions related to peace. These ulti- many different people, communicating
is currently invading Ukraine, violating mately require dedication, support, and with and being dependant on each other.
its sovereignty. sacrifice. We need these for people and We are facing these at our own ecologi-
communities that want to transform. cal, national and interdisciplinary levels
The question we will ask here after 25 over the next 30 years. We are all related
years, in the 25th year of this Eurasian Bringing peace is specifically about to each other in some way.
Economic Summit is how can we ensure sustainable economics, but also about
sustainability? sustainable stewardship. That is why we This is very simple but at the same
need to consider our worldview and the time the most difficult lesson to learn
Here we will talk about the facts, the conditions related to the future of our pla- here. We must understand each other. Li-
facts of these meetings are much more

103

kewise, another fundamental lesson to be officials, academics, necessary represen- Hon. Mme. Ümran Köksüz extended
learned is that we, our generation, need to tatives and religious representatives, the gratitude of the Marmara Group
leave a cleaner, healthier and more beau- everyone is here. Foundation to The Very Rev. Grand
tiful legacy.
We must be closer to each other than Ecclesiarch Aetios
Our forests, water and resources are ever before so that together we can over-
needed not only for the current genera- come these critical challenges ahead.
tion, but also for future generations. Our Only in this way can we be successful,
children and our children’s children need only then can we follow the path we have
a world free from hunger, bloodshed and determined. In order to achieve the goals
discrimination. we have agreed on and signed at the Paris
Climate Summit, we need to come to-
We should learn to share our world, we gether, only in this way can we develop
should be more sharing. We are here to- communities that are tolerant, understand
gether with the people who are here, es- each other and think about peace. Only
pecially governments, companies, in this way can we fight against the un-
private and public affiliates. just war waged by Russia. Bless your fa-
milies, you and everyone. Thank you for
There are enough resources for Huma- listening
nity. We can solve all current pandemic
crises by working together. Government

THE YOUNG GENERATION OF THE MARMARA GROUP FOUNDATION VISITED ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW
Marmara Group Foundation, Dr Akkan Suver and a small group of members of the Young Generation Marmara
Group paid a courtesy visit to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to give information about the works and activi-

ties of the Marmara Group Foundation.
In the delegation of the Marmara Group Foundation consisting of Cafer Okray, Sezgin Bilgiç, Atty. Serhat Tabanca
and Müjgan Suver; Nimet Ulubay, Bilal Bilici, Mahmut Saklı, Atty. Belgin Tanriverdi, Atty. Murat Keçeciler, Hasan Ye-

diyıldız and Gülçin Güngören from the Young Generation were also present.

104

H.A.H. Prof. Dr. ALİ BARDAKOĞLU

President of the Religious Affairs of Türkiye (2003 – 2010)
Recipient of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honor (2019)

Let me remind you of a verse from the Qur’an: “The earth, the seas, the lands
were ruined because of what you did” says Great Allah

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim! I begin my ople live below the poverty line, and we in these? If you notice, national and religi-
words in the name of the Great God have people living in the same building, in ous identities, interests almost made us for-
and with salutations to all prophets. Distin- the same neighborhood and not seeing get these basic moral virtues.
guished participants, and esteemed guests, each other.
I offer my respects to all of you, and wish As we forgot these values and moved
you a good day. In the face of these problems, we, as re- away from them, we continued to talk
ligious scholars, have to ask the following more and thus to deceive ourselves and the
We realize the Eurasian Economic Sum- question: Is the Almighty God or Nature listeners. I think we have the problem.
mit is happening for 25th time. This is a responsible for all this? Or is it people who Today, the world cannot discuss agricultu-
great achievement, an achievement worthy cannot manage to share, produce and live ral problems or food crises due to the im-
of great celebration and pride. For this rea- in a friendly manner with these opportuni- possibilities given by the Great Creator. We
son, I sincerely congratulate Mr. Akkan ties given by nature, this beautiful world are talking about the crisis that resulted
and the Marmara Group Foundation. conveyed by the Almighty Creator? It is from the destruction caused by human be-
not right to blame all people. ings. Let me remind you of a verse from
They have accomplished a great job that the Qur’an: “The earth, the seas, the lands
many institutions cannot do, and they con- Maybe we are the ones who are respon- were ruined because of what you did” says
tinue to do so. It not only brings people to- sible, our politicians, scientists, adminis- Great Allah.
gether, but it also brings hearts together, trators and religious scholars. Until today,
brings hopes together and draws a beauti- they only told us to share and live huma- In other words, Allah has given us a
ful road map for the construction of the fu- nely. Dear Friends, frankly speaking, it is world like paradise, a land like paradise, a
ture of humanity. not enough to talk about high moral vir- country like paradise, but due to the greed
tues. They must be believed. They need to of human beings, the cruelty of human be-
To be honest, and to speak frankly in the be sincerely embraced as a way of life. ings, and the fact that human beings only
world we live in, our suffering is great. It is Today we talk a lot about agriculture, eco- do these things in words and do not bring
not just a food problem, it is not just an ag- nomy, sharing, brotherhood, living in se- them into their hearts, insides and lives,
ricultural problem, humanity has lost their curity and peace, but do we really believe they have started to make people live a life
shared future and hope. Millions of our pe-

105

of hell in the world and we have to see result of our heart being sealed. Hon. Att. Murat Keçeciler gratitude of the
this. In other words, it is said that the earth Marmara Group Foundation to H.A.H Ali
Bardakoğlu, President of the Religious Affairs
The religious scholars have to see it is polluted, but it is our minds that are
too. The religious scholars cannot say polluted before the earth becomes pol- of Türkiye (2003 – 2010)
that they are doing their duty with nice luted. The earth is not polluted unless
words alone. Politicians cannot be sa- the minds and hearts are polluted. Wha-
tisfied with good words and moral ad- tever we did, we did it with our own
vice on Environment Day, World hands. That is why, instead of getting
Health Day, and World Agriculture angry with the Great God and Nature,
Day. Words must turn into action. we have to thank him, give thanks and
face ourselves. I wish that this meeting
Because I believe that piety is since- and togetherness will lead to such an
rity. Appear as you are, be as you ap- confrontation with ourselves, and I sin-
pear. It is necessary to make this a cerely congratulate the Marmara Group
common ideal not only of the clergy, Foundation. They showed a huge suc-
but of all humanity. In other words, if cess before our eyes. They gave us a
we are experiencing a peace crisis as space to speak, argue, confront and find
humanity, if we are experiencing a food a way out. I thank them and express my
problem as humanity, this is the result gratitude to our guests. I wish you all
of our eyes becoming too blind to see health and good days.
the hungry person next to us. It is the

H.E. ALEXANDER YAKOVENKO

Ambassador, Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Federation

The sanctions of the collective West do not take into account the fact that Russia is one of the
world’s major producers of food and energy resources, a net exporter of agricultural and food

products for the third year in a row

The Russian Federation, which constantly access to basic-needs products. There is a Asia, Africa and Latin America.
monitors the situation on the world food clear prospect of food shortages in many International agribusiness has entered a
market, notes the accumulation of precondi- countries, including the industrialized coun-
tions for a global crisis in food security and tries of the “collective West”, not only in period of global economic instability char-
acterized by catastrophic forecasts for the in-

106

dustry, new harvests and livestock produc- fertilizers prices immediately increased, be- terials in 2022 are projected to increase by
tion. According to stock exchanges, the cause a significant portion of them (primar- about 6 percent over 2021 levels and will be
world is entering a period of significant in- ily nitrogen fertilizers) are produced using more than $39 billion. Grains dominated in
creases in prices of food, including wheat gas as a feedstock. As soon as fertilizers the structure of Russian agricultural exports
and corn. prices crawled upward, many plants, in- in 2021 both in value and in volume terms.
cluding those in European countries, be- Preliminary prospects for the new 2022
HOW IT ALL BEGAN came unprofitable. Moreover, they began to crop are mostly optimistic.
close at all. The volume of fertilizers on the
The unfavorable situation on the global world market fell sharply, and prices rose According to the Federal Customs Ser-
food market has not begun yesterday or dramatically, may be said, quite unexpect- vice, in January 2022 the physical volume
even since the start of Russia’s special mil- edly for many European politicians. of exports of Russian poultry meat in-
itary operation in Donbas. It began to take creased by 39.1%, fresh and frozen fish - by
shape in February 2020, while dealing with As we know, the amount of fertilizers put 17%, seafood - by 24%. In value terms, ex-
the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic, into the soil determines the yield. As soon ports in the first quarter of 2022 were $0.96
when the world economy went down and as it became clear that the volume of Rus- billion, which is more by 43.2% in compar-
the world economy had to be rebuilt. sian fertilizers supply to the world market ison with the same period in 2021.
could not be maintained at the same level,
The USA has opted for infusion of large prices crawled even higher for both fertiliz- It is necessary to note that the sanction
sums of money into supporting people, in- ers and food. If there are no fertilizers, there measures affect all Russian agricultural ex-
dividual businesses, and sectors of the econ- is no necessary volume of agricultural pro- ports and have negative consequences for
omy. duction. all countries without exception. As a re-
sponsible member of the global food mar-
In two incomplete years from February Fertilizers are also necessary for the pro- ket, Russia intends to continue fulfillment
2020 to the end of 2021, the USA money duction of plant food, which makes up the of its obligations under international con-
supply grew by $5.9 trillion. The total majority of the food people eat, and for the tracts for the exports of agricultural prod-
money supply grew by 38.6 percent. meat industry, because fertilizers help grow ucts, fertilizers, energy and other critically
animal feed. Experts estimate that each ton important products in good faith. Moscow is
The Secretary of the Treasury recently of fertilizers (in active ingredient) corre- well aware of the importance of supplies of
said they made a mistake. So this is a mis- sponds to the production of the amount of socially important goods, including food,
take by the financial, economic authorities food that can feed 30 people a year in aver- for the socioeconomic development of the
of the United States; it bears no relation to age. According to the OECD-FAO 2021- states of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the
the Russia’s actions in Ukraine. 2030 Agricultural Outlook, the average Middle East, the achievement of food secu-
person consumes about 2,9 th kcal per day rity indicators and the implementation of the
This was the first step, a very serious step (the energy equivalent of food intake) every UN Sustainable Development Goals pro-
toward the development of an unfavorable day. gram.
situation on the food market, because food
prices took off. That is the first one. Further deepening of the crisis phenom- Nevertheless, economic sanctions, in-
ena on the agrarian market is connected, cluding the blocking of international ship-
The second reason is the policy of the Eu- first of all, with the introduction of unilat- ments and arrests of large-capacity vessels,
ropean countries, and first of all the Euro- eral restrictive measures of the West coun- the inability to insure maritime transport,
pean Commission in energetics. tries against Russia in February - March and the disconnection of Russian banks
2022. They were so widespread that they from the SWIFT system, have led to a
The possibilities of alternative forms of managed, as a kind of catalyst, to spur the breakdown in the logistical and financial
energy - solar, wind, hydrogen - have begun systemic errors in the macroeconomic and chains that have existed for decades in the
to be exaggerated. At the same time, tradi- food policy of industrialized countries ac- global trade in food commodities. Payment
tional forms of energy, including and above cumulated for years. They also added new restrictions and logistical difficulties caused
all hydrocarbons and coal, have begun to be serious problems to those, which were the by sanctions have affected the entire global
depreciated. trigger for the impending food crisis. network of economic operators in the field
of agricultural products. With the uncer-
Banks stopped lending because they were The sanctions of the collective West do tainty reigning on exchanges and markets,
under political pressure. Insurance compa- not take into account the fact that Russia is some agricultural producers are even be-
nies stopped insuring the relevant transac- one of the world’s major producers of food ginning to doubt the advisability of invest-
tions. Local authorities stopped issuing plots and energy resources, a net exporter of agri- ing in the expansion of their activities.
of land for the expansion of production, re- cultural and food products for the third year
duced the construction of specialized trans- in a row. Agricultural raw materials and Global trade in agricultural products re-
port, including pipeline transport. food are now supplied to 161 countries. The mains destabilized to this day. Cost of en-
export volume of food products and agri- ergy resources and fuel is rising driven by
All this led to underinvestment in the cultural raw materials in 2021 was 71 mil- sanctions, compelling farmers to decrease
global energy sector, resulting in higher lion tons worth $37.1 billion, 21% higher cultivated areas all round resulting in a de-
prices. than in 2020 ($30.5 billion). cline in the volume of agricultural products
on the background of ever-increasing de-
Western Europeans have not heeded our Exports of food and agricultural raw ma-
strong requests to maintain long-term con-
tracts for the supply of natural gas to Euro-
pean countries. This had a negative impact
on the European energy market: prices
crawled upward.

As soon as gas prices crawled upward,

107

mand. The situation is exacerbated by low ages of fertilizers. from countries that have not imposed sanc-
food stocks, adverse weather conditions (in Total fertilizer sales to foreign markets, tions against Russia.
particular, the prolonged drought in North
America) and a general underinvestment in primarily nitrogen and mixed fertilizers, As for the “prohibitive” anti-dumping du-
the industry. have been growing steadily in recent years. ties on mineral fertilizers from Russia, the
There is also a trend towards geographic di- USA imposed duties on Russian carbamide-
Under these conditions, the Russian Fed- versification of Russian fertilizer exports, ammonia mixture from January 2022: for
eration was forced to take certain retaliatory depending on demand in various foreign Akron - 9.66%, Eurochem - 9.84%, in Eu-
restrictive economic measures affecting, countries. In value terms, exports of mineral rope - from the fall of 2019. In April 2021,
among others, a number of agricultural and fertilizers amounted a record $12.5 billion Washington imposed duties on imports of
commodity products, in order to protect its in 2021. phosphate fertilizers from Russia: 9.19% for
interests in response to external restrictions. Phosagro, 47.05% for Eurochem, and
Let’s hope that these measures are tempo- Dependence of the European market on 17.2% for other producers.
rary. In general, Russian estimates are in Russian fertilizers is high: Europe gets 25%
agreement with those economic forecasts, of carbamide, 15% of ammonium nitrate, a In addition, on April 8, 2022, the Euro-
which show the real risk of serious food third of phosphate fertilizers and 35% of pean Union adopted the 5th package of
shortages and even starvation in several re- potassium from Russia. In the USA, the sanctions against the Russian Federation,
gions of the world, primarily those critically share of Russian supplies in imports is 6% which also includes measures against min-
dependent on external supplies of basic- for potassium, 20% for diammonium phos- eral fertilizers and basic raw materials for
needs products. phate and 13% for carbamide. The total their production.
share of Russia and Belarus in potassium
ABOUT THE SITUATION ON THE GLOBAL chloride supplies to the European market This document provides for the follow-
reached 50-60% before the sanctions ing restrictions:
AGRICULTURAL FERTILIZER MARKET DUE against Belaruskali.
-Quotas were established on supplies of
TO THE WESTERN SANCTIONS Officially the ban on Russian fertilizers, potassium, complex fertilizers and potas-
as in the case of agricultural products, has sium-containing fertilizers produced in Rus-
Western sanctions have severely limited not been introduced, but the countries of the sia to the European market for a year (until
Russian supplies of fertilizers to the world “collective West” have established restric- 10.07.2023);
market, thereby undermining the possibil- tive quotas and additional duties preventing
ity of successful agricultural production in free access of Russian fertilizers to foreign -A ban was approved on the purchase,
many countries around the world. markets. Since the start of the special oper- import and transfer of potassium, complex
ation in Ukraine, the cost of nitrogen fertil- fertilizers and potassium-containing fertil-
Western sanctions do not take into ac- izers in the world shot up by an average of izers produced in Russia and exceeding the
count the fact that Russia is the third player 40-50%, phosphate and potassium fertiliz- quotas specified in the document;
on the world market of mineral fertilizers. ers - by about 30%. Prices in the nitrogen
According to Rosstat, in 2021 the produc- and phosphate segments will continue to -A ban was introduced on the provision
tion of these products in Russia increased rise in the near future, but by mid-summer, of technical, brokerage and other services
by 5.6%, to 24.9 million tons (in the active subject to the normalization of logistics, related to the supply, production and main-
substance). According to the data from the prices may stabilize only if the previously tenance and/or use of Russian products and
Federal Customs Service (FCS) and imposed Western trade barriers are lifted. As technologies, including fertilizers.
TradeMap, about 65% of products are ex- for potassium chloride prices, they are likely
ported. The European Union and the ASA to continue rising, as Belaruskali is still lim- The key negative effect of the restrictions
account for 22% of Russian fertilizers ex- ited in the supply of its products. is that they threaten the supply of Russian
ports. According to the Economic Forecast- fertilizers to countries outside the European
ing Center (EFC) of Gazprombank, in 2021 Already since the beginning of March Union (including developing and poor
the Russian share in import of fertilizers in 2022, several major logistics companies countries, where starvation is already an
the USA amounted 14%. In addition to fer- have refused to carry Russian cargo. Since acute problem), as the existing logistics and
tilizers, Russia is an important global sup- March 1, the three largest sea container car- financial chains are disrupted.
plier of basic raw materials for the riers - Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Com-
production of fertilizers, including ammo- pany (MSC), Danish Maersk and French Russian fertilizer producing companies
nia (potentially from June to December CMA CGM - has stopped transportation of fell under separate restrictive measures due
2022 - about 2.5 million tons), apatite con- cargo from Russia, including mineral fertil- to the inclusion of beneficiaries and top
centrate (about 1 million tons) and sulfur izers. There are also significant problems management of Russian mineral fertilizer
(about 2 million tons). At present, these sup- with chartering ships for bulk and liquid producing and exporting companies in per-
plies are also actually blocked due to the im- cargo, which is directly related to the trans- sonal sanctions lists. In recent months, lead-
possibility of transportation and portation of fertilizers. Exporters have faced ing figures in the Russian mineral fertilizer
transshipment through the territory of the the fact that consumers in Europe are wary industry - beneficiaries and top manage-
Baltic States. This leads to a shortage of raw of the risks associated with buying fertiliz- ment of EuroChem, PhosAgro, Uralchem,
materials for fertilizers production in the ers. Experts note that supplies in certain sec- Uralkali, and Akron - have been included on
world, as well as higher prices and short- tors are supported only by smaller ships the EU and UK sanctions lists. Most of
them, being subjected to the sanctions, gave
up control in their companies and left man-
agement positions. Despite the corporate
changes made and the termination of ties

108

with the sanctioned individuals, these com- previous years. Russian fertilizer producers solve the food problem.
panies are still experiencing difficulties and can completely redirect volumes from Eu-
restrictions in their work, which are re- rope, given that Latin America and Asia WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
flected in the following: have always been among the key con-
sumers. The redistribution of fertilizer flows In order to prevent worsening of the
-various formal and informal sanctions, between markets will take up to six months, global food crisis, it seems advisable to
restrictions that affect buyers’willingness to contributing toward high fertilizer prices, agree as soon as possible on an international
interact with Russian suppliers; which are already above the maximum lev- legal mechanism that would completely re-
els of previous years. move food, fertilizers and raw materials for
-refusal of transport companies to provide their production from the sanctions. The UN
transport for shipments of Russian origin Recognizing the miscalculations of the should take measures to ensure “market
(even if the shipments themselves and/or the sanctions policy, its key ideologues, repre- freedom” for the international trade in fer-
companies-owners are not under sanctions); sented by the USA authorities, have already tilizers, recognizing fertilizers as a com-
begun to introduce special exemptions for modity necessary to meet the basic
-refusal to insure shipments from Russia; agricultural products and fertilizers, ex- humanitarian needs of humanity as soon as
-complicating ship calls to Russian ports; plaining it by humanitarian purposes. Thus, possible. In conclusion, the Western sanc-
-difficult financial support of transactions as early as March 2022, a special general li- tions policy, unless alternative measures are
due to extended bank compliance proce- cense was issued authorizing all transac- taken, will ultimately lead to an irreparable
dures, etc. The general confusion with lo- tions necessary in normal trade practice for destabilization of the world food market and
gistics and the application of sanctions on the export or re-export of agricultural goods, have a negative impact on people’s well-
Russian cargoes, including mineral fertiliz- including fertilizers, from, to or in transit being. Comprehensive measures need to be
ers, provoked a drop in exports. At the same through Russia. The UN Secretary General taken at the level of the UN and its bodies to
time, transport leverage is growing, ship- called on the UN Conference on Trade and minimize the damage primarily to the least
ments are becoming smaller, customs pro- Development (UNCTAD) to engage with developed and least protected countries and
cedures are longer, and cargo has to be Russia and other interested countries to help social groups.
“pushed through” in manual mode. Exports
decreased by 30-50% relative to the level of

President of the Russian Federation Diplomacy Academy Alexander Yakovenko, together with the Consul General of the
Russian Federation in Istanbul Andrey Burarov, H.E. Gohar Barseghyan, Director of Eurasian Economic Commission, Mr.
Andrey Diansky, Chief of the Office of the Member of the Board (Minister) for Integration and Macroeconomics of the
Eurasian Economic Commission, Artem Timoshchenko Attaché, Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Istanbul

visited Dr. Akkan Suver at Marmara Group Foundation.
109

H.A.H. YUSUF ÇETİN

Deputy Patriarchal of Syriac Orthodox Community of Istanbul
(Recipient of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honor, 2016)

Accordingly, besides the external symptoms such as economic, ecological, technological, so-
ciological, political, and even psychological and ethical, the spiritual cause of the current cri-

sis, which has an internal dimension, should also be emphasized

Dear President, Distinguished Partici- such as the global food, commodities and and the superior element has superiority
pants, supplies shortage. In other words the crisis over the other elements. In other words, the
I greet you all with love and respect, and is always related to the person himself, not soul has superiority over the body, and man
I wish you all a life full of health, peace and just the events that take place outside him. has superiority over nature. In this sense,
success from Almighty God. This year’s In fact, most of the time, these events that first the soul, then the body, in good and
25th Eurasian Economic Summit, which is take place outside the person are a product bad, first human and then nature are the de-
organized with great success by the Mar- of his mental world and are not a cause but termining factors in good and bad. In one
mara Group Strategic and Social Research an effect. verse of the Bible, it is said regarding this
Foundation every year, is “Crisis in Food, issue:
Supply and Commodity! Will the Paris Just like some diseases that appear in the
Agreement remain in the shadow of War?” human body. At first glance, it is thought “There is nothing outside a man that can
I would like to start my speech by stating that these ailments are only in the body and enter him and defile him. But it is the things
that I am happy to be with you again. the place where they originate is outside the that come out of man that defile a man. It
person. However, it is very well known comes from the heart that comes out of the
Distinguished participants, the crisis is a today that the cause of most of the diseases inside, and that is what defiles a person. For
sign that the path of development can no is the restlessness in the inner structure of bad thoughts, bad behavior, depravity,
longer continue as usual. If there is a world- the person and, accordingly, the wrong be- greed, deceit, theft, murder, envy, foolish-
wide crisis in food, commodities and sup- haviors. Sometimes the cause of these dis- ness, all these bad things come from within,
ply, it means that the use and supply of food eases is simply hereditary. and they defile one.” (Bible Matthew 15:11-
and commodities cannot continue as it has 20; Mark 7:15-23). “From the treasury of
been the case in the world. In other words, In other words, it is in some genetic dis- goodness within a good man brings good,
the lifestyle of more production, more con- orders that the person has inherited from and from the treasury of evil within him,
sumption brought by the economic pros- their ancestors. evil brings forth evil” (Matthew 12:35)
perity that emerged in the world after the
Second World War cannot be sustained any If one draws from this example, it will be Accordingly, besides the external symp-
longer. This way of life needs to change. seen that man as soul, body and nature, and toms such as economic, ecological, techno-
Otherwise, the problem is not going to re- this is not just a single human being, but all logical, sociological, political, and even
main as the reason but cause other crises, humanity from the beginning is a whole. psychological and ethical, the spiritual
And the different elements of this whole are cause of the current crisis, which has an in-
in mutual interaction among themselves,

110

ternal dimension, should also be empha- warehouses will be full… The LORD will We believe that if religious institutions ful-
sized. First of all, I would like to say a few open up his rich treasure in the heavens to fill their duties duly, everything will go
words, with your permission, on the subject make the rain fall on your land in time and much better in nature and among people.
of religion. make all your labor fruitful, and let you live However, since religions are the focus of
in abundance. peace and love, how can there still be talk of
Dear participants, as long as the heart of religious and sectarian wars in the world? It
a person does not change, his thoughts, ac- “But if you disobey the LORD your God seems that something is not going the way
tions, and even nature, depending on it, do and do not obey his commands, these [im- it should here. Religious Institutions should
not change. To put it the other way around: pairments] will accompany you: You will ask themselves this. In this regard, Religious
If a positive or negative event is observed be [poor] in the city as well as in the coun- Institutions need a self-criticism as much as
in nature, the reason for this should be try. Your basket and dough vat will be [im- science. Religion does not directly interfere
sought not only in nature itself, but primar- plenty]. The fruit of your body will be the with the prevailing socioeconomic order in
ily in the thoughts and actions of man, and produce of your ground, and the offspring the world. It performs service in this field
moreover in his heart. of your cattle and herds will be [unfertile]… through the teaching of human love and hu-
In all that you do because of the wickedness manitarian aid organizations. The main task
When a person acts right first in his heart you have done by giving up to the LORD, and goal of religion is to help correct the
and then in his action, everything goes well He will make you [miscarriage]…, you will hearts by dominating the evil and encour-
in nature and among people. When a person be punished with pestilence…, scorching aging the good. If hearts are good, other
acts incorrectly in his heart and, accordingly, heat, and drought.” (Torah, Deuteronomy things will go well by themselves. Yunus
in his actions, disasters, famines, dishar- 28: 1-22) Emre, “I am not here on earth for strife,
mony and wars occur among people. Be- Love is the mission of my life. Hearts are
cause he had reason, from the beginning Distinguished participants, after man dis- the home of the loved one; I came here to
God placed man above all the elements of covered the power of science, that is, his build each true heart” How beautifully he
creation. And accordingly nature and all its own power, he no longer resorted to the expressed it in his lines.
contents are dependent on its attitude. As a power of God. However, throughout his-
matter of fact, the Bible says from the very tory, people have always needed God’s Dear participants, there is a misconcep-
beginning that the land has been rendered power, and for this purpose they have al- tion that the world’s resources are limited
unproductive because of man’s wrongdo- ways sought His help through prayers and and not enough for everyone and the future.
ing. (Torah Genesis 3: 17-18). The apostle sacrifices. However, the world can be enough for ev-
Paul also writes that he longed for a change eryone and the future, as long as there are
of heart and a return to God in order for na- According to the Bible, man was created no limits in the heart and mind of the per-
ture to get out of this unfavorable situation. to live with God. He has trouble managing son. If we think limited, everything will be
(The Bible, Romans 8:19). himself when left on his own. When we try limited, if we think broadly, everything will
to fix one thing, it breaks another. This be wide. There is everything in the world
Dear participants, the Bible positions man brings with it new problems. Environmen- and there is enough for everyone. Enough
as the center and destination of the universe, tal problems facing the world today: global for future generations.
but also as its custodian and protector. Ev- warming, climate change, drought and de-
erything that finds the universe is directly sertification, instability in precipitation, Who knew about coal, oil, natural gas,
related to the will of God, the attitude of flooding, and the consequent worldwide cri- electricity, steam power, atomic power a
man. The following few passages from the sis in food, commodities and supplies, un- few centuries ago? Like this, who can say
Bible fully reveal this point. “What is a employment and migration movements, all in advance that there are not many sources,
human being that you are his mother? What of which are increasingly felt by human and many forces that we do not know today, in
is Adem that you call him? You made him a generally it is the result of modern man’s the heart of the world and in the mind of
little lower than the angels. You put the wrong activity and wrong way of life. How- man? If there is no “fear of ending” in one’s
crown of glory and respect on his head. ever, while all these wrong actions are heart, even in its current form, the world’s
pointed out and criticized with environ- resources are enough for everyone. The “ab-
You gave him reign over the works of mental sensitivity today, little emphasis is sence” is in the hearts. If people knew how
your hands all things, flocks, cattle, And the placed on the heartbreak behind them. to share, world resources are enough for ev-
wild animals, The birds of the sky and the However, wrong starts in the heart and then eryone even today. There is no need to ex-
fish of the sea, All living creatures in the sea. turns into action. Wrong action comes from clude or fight each other for these.
You put him under his feet”. ( Psalm 8:3-8) the wrong heart. There is no wrong action
from the right heart. In the Bible, As a result, against the “fear of hunger
However, “If you listen carefully to the and scarcity,” the Bible encourages us with
word of the LORD your God and follow his It is said, “Figs are not gathered from these words: “Man does not live by bread
commands… these blessings will be with thorny plants, grapes are not gathered from alone, he lives by every word that comes out
you: You will be blessed in the city and in bushes.” (Bible Luke 6:44). of the mouth of God.” (The Bible Matthew
the country. The fruit of your body will be 4:4)” So don’t worry about what we will eat,
blessed. The produce of your land, the off- For this reason, hearts must first be cor- drink, or dress… Our Heavenly Father
spring of your animals, and the offspring of rected. This is primarily the task of the Re- knows that you need all these things. You
your cattle and herds will be fruitful. Your ligious Institution. Positive sciences cannot first follow His Kingdom and righteousness,
basket and vat of dough will be prosper- be expected to provide this education. This
ous… By the LORD’s command, your license belongs to the Religious Institution.

111

and then all this will be given.” (The Bible, removed from the agenda. Concluding my Summit and wish them many more years. It
Matthew 6:31-33). We believe that if a per- words with this belief and hope, I would like has been a little long. I apologize. Thank you
son turns his heart in this direction towards to thank Dr. Akkan Suver, the Chairman of to each and every one of you for listening to
God and his fellow human beings, there will the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Re- me patiently. May God protect and bless our
be nothing for humanity to worry about in search Foundation, and his valuable col- Country and our world from all kinds of dis-
the world, both in terms of natural events leagues. Also, I would like to take this asters and crises; May peace and love pre-
and human relations. Famine, war, migra- opportunity to congratulate them on the 25th vail in our country and in the world. Love
tion and all other similar negativities will be Anniversary of the Eurasian Economic and respect.

H.A.H. Chorbishop ORHAN ÇANLI

Syriac Catholic Deputy Patriarch of Türkiye

As the Holy Bible says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God”.
May God keep the hearts of the rulers who lead and rule the world with love and compassion

and help them to be just in all their decisions

Distinguished Participants, respected have come out of the dark and suspicious the parable of the Last Judgment in the
Religious Leaders, Ladies and Gen- tunnel of the pandemic and after a long Gospel of Matthew (25,35) with the words
tlemen, on behalf of myself and the Syriac time, we are holding the 25th Eurasian Eco- of the Lord, “I was hungry, you gave me
Catholic Community, I greet you with the nomic Summit face to face. This year, as food, I was thirsty, you gave me drink.”
deepest respect and love. every year, a very important issue is dis-
cussed at the summit. In our world, wastes, environmental pol-
I would like to express my thanks, es- lution, and ecological destruction are com-
pecially to Dr. Akkan Suver, the Chairman Regarding the future of the global food mon problems in all countries. Therefore,
of the Marmara Group Strategic and Social crisis and climate change, the Catholic many countries implement joint projects
Research Foundation, and all his collea- Church has been keeping humanity’s con- under the umbrella of the United Nations
gues, who contributed to the meticulous or- cern for poverty, hunger, and thirst on its in order to find solutions to these sensitive
ganization of the 25th Eurasian Economic agenda for years, reminding us of our duty issues. Protecting natural areas and crea-
Summit this year. to use earthly blessings responsibly. ting environmental awareness have now
become the number one agenda item in the
Honorable Attendees, thank God we This issue is strongly emphasized in

112

world. If every country does not do its part is forgotten in the sight of God” “right people” will not be allowed to starve
in environmentally friendly production, it (Luke12,6) “Look at the birds any longer.
is not possible for us to make the world li- flying in the sky! They neither
vable. sow nor reap, nor store food in As the Holy Bible says, “Blessed are the
barns. Our Heavenly Father still peacemakers, for they will be called the
If we are truly interested in developing feeds them” (Mt.6,26) sons of God”. May God keep the hearts of
ecological skills that can heal the damage the rulers who lead and rule the world with
we do to the environment, we cannot exc- If we think about it in the tota- love and compassion and help them to be
lude any branch of science and any form of lity of God’s plan, we will better just in all their decisions. In order to expe-
wisdom, including this religion and espe- understand the importance and rience the beauties of our world with this
cially its language. The creation of the meaning of each creature. As sta- belief, we need to do our part in our daily
human being in God’s image should not ted in the Catholic Church Teac- lives. If we do not roll up our sleeves and
cause us to ignore the fact that every crea- hing, “God wanted creatures to be treat our world with radical personal and
ture has its own purpose. Nothing is re- connected.” The sun and the political choices, if we do not make prog-
dundant. The entire material universe moon, the cypress and the little flower, the ress towards an economic change of direc-
expresses God’s love, his endless love for eagle and the sparrow: they can exist in de- tion that prioritizes “green” with
us. Earth, water, mountains; everything is pendence on each other, in the service of technological advances, our shared home
the embrace of God. each other, to complement each other. As will throw us out the window. We can no
part of the universe, God has bound us longer waste time. Pope Francis: “This task
Biblical texts, in their context, tell us, tightly to the world around us. Thus, we does not fall only on those who run the co-
with appropriate interpretive method (her- should feel the desertification of the land untries, each of us has to fight and expose
meneutics), that the world garden is to almost as a physical inconvenience and the these corruptions, apathy, and connivance
“cultivate and protect the land” (Gen 2:15). extinction of species as a painful ugliness. to crimes,” he says.
While the concept of “cultivating” corres-
ponds to the concepts of cultivating, and Natural and climatic changes have sha- Our House, which has hosted us for a
working on the soil, the concept of “loo- ped the struggle of human beings for nutri- long time, is suffering from the wounds we
king” means to take care of, protect, watch tion from the first day until today. We can have inflicted on it. Let us take care of our
over and preserve it. This means a relati- find a wealth of information on this subject Earth, which is like our mother, not pretend
onship of mutual responsibility between in the Bible texts of the “Old Testament.” to be the owner of its resources, but respect
man and nature. Each society can take as For example, in a conversation between the gifts of our Earth and creation. God has
much as it needs for a living from the abun- Prophet Yusuf and Pharaoh (Genesis 41), given mankind a perfect garden, we can-
dance of the earth but must not forget its after seven years of abundance, seven years not leave a desert for our children.
obligation to protect the earth and maintain of famine are mentioned. It is said, “There
its fertility for future generations. will be no wheat for seven years, the pe- Only if we act in a more holistic, frater-
ople will have no food, and they will starve nal, and peaceful way can we create a li-
“The earth belongs to the Lord” (Psalm to death”. In all countries, people starved, vable world that is the future we desire.
24,1) “The earth and all that is in it” (Deu- and many died, and only those who were
teronomy 10,14) belongs to him. For this prepared for this famine survived. Again, The land is generous and spares nothing
reason, God rejects any explanation that in- in the Old Testament Texts (Exodus 10- for those who protect it. The land, the mot-
dicates definite ownership. “Your field can- 12), it is mentioned that the locusts, which her of all, demands respect, not violence or,
not be sold permanently. Because it ate all of the hail, wheat and fruit that des- worse, the arrogance of mastery. We must
belongs to me. You are a stranger, you are troyed the crops, caused famine and hun- return it to our children, healed and preser-
my guest” (Lev23,25) “None of the beings ger. ved, for the land is a trust they have given
us. The responsibility to protect this relic is
created in this world is unclaimed. My Concerning such disasters, we recall the everyone’s business. Let’s not forget that
Lord, who loves life, you withhold words of Prophet Solomon: “The Lord the life of every living thing will end in the
everything because everything is yours.” does not allow the righteous to starve, nor soil. In concluding my words, I wish all
(Bil.11,26) does he fulfil the desires of greedy wicked members of the human family and all crea-
The natural environment is common people” (Proverbs 10-16). tion to be protected and wish you all a pea-
property, the ancestral heritage of all hu- ceful life.
manity, and is everyone’s responsibility. If However, when we look around today,
we make something our own, it should some greedy states are causing unrest and
only be to use it for the benefit of all. even wars in many countries, causing mil-
lions of innocent people to live in hunger,
Statistics tell us that 20 per cent of the misery, and poverty.
world’s population today consumes all re-
sources for their environment, thus stealing The wars taking place in the world
the rights of poor nations and future gene- right now are the most vivid examples of
rations who must survive. The Holy Books this. This war brought various crises to
remind us, with active compassion, that other world countries due to the exorbitant
each and every one of God’s creations is prices of energy and food prices. It is our
important. “Do not five sparrows sell for hope and belief that wherever there is war
two metallics? But not a single one of them in the world, there will be an end and the

113

H.A.H. İZAK HALEVA

Chief Rabbi of Türkiye
Recipient of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honor (2016)

According to regional and international data,
it is almost impossible to make progress unless global

cooperation is established

Honorable President, Attendants, Dear subject to fix such problems, but the possi- ness with mass migrations and changes in
Friends. I think it has been seven years bility that I am talking about is in the fo- the sociology of the region, and moreover,
since the peace treaty was declared. It has refront, which is not at all heartwarming. a series of domino effects that I do not want
not been more than a year since we passed to list here.
it through parliament and put it into action. I do not know if I can list them all, but
these are the first ones that come to my So, what to do? How to do? For now, the
To what extent does this international ag- mind and the ones that scare me the most. Paris Agreement envisages the following.
reement, which aims to research and im- As the population of the earth increases ra- The transition to a low-carbon economy is
plement the methods of slowing down the pidly, our water, which we have wasted not something that can be procrastinated
process of climate change caused by us hu- until now, is no longer enough for us. from today to tomorrow, in fact starting the
mans on our planet if possible, reducing its process today is already late, it will be even
effects or adapting to these changes as the Moreover, water resources are decrea- later tomorrow.
inhabitants of the earth if not, is put into sing day by day. Decreased precipitation
practice? leads to soil degradation, and instability in According to regional and international
agriculture, animal husbandry and insecu- data, it is almost impossible to make prog-
Evaluating this is not my area of exper- rity for the future, along with desertifica- ress unless global cooperation is establis-
tise, but as a clergyman, I would like to tion and ecological degeneration, all of hed.
point out the possibilities of climate which affect peoples lifestyle.
change, which is the subject of the agree- In this, the sharing of finance and tech-
ment, concerns every human being and Access to food tends to become more nology by developed countries is an abso-
thus interests me. costly, increasingly unequal. In fact, the lute necessity. It is indispensable, otherwise
prevalence of hunger and malnutrition on we will continue to spend contemptuously
The cooperation of the Paris Agreement our planet is about to form a preparatory from the unformed budget of our unborn
may be disrupted or disrupted by wars, cause for some organic and psychological grandchildren, as we have done so suc-
economic crises, epidemics and many changes and diseases. For all these reasons, cessfully until now.
other reasons. It is up to the experts of the there are some unavoidable social restless-
Thank you for listening to me.

114

H.E. WERNER FASSLABEND

Minister of Defence of Austria (1990-2000)

Every new day is a new chance. It will take us some time, but we have to do it. We need to take
take the initiative to renew relationships. Russia, the largest country in Europe, which has very
serious and interconnected economic relations, immediately started a war and pushed the other

side to impose sanctions. That is the problem

I greet you all, esteemed Participants, Es- ving people in recent years are in Yemen, pol, Kherson, Odessa and other places. The
teemed People, Esteemed Guests of this Ethiopia, South Sudan, parts of Nigeria, Russian Navy is preventing this. Russia is
Summit. First of all, I want to thank you all and Madagascar. There is war in all of not just the cause of the war, it is the reason
for this invitation. these regions. more people are starving to death in Af-
rica and elsewhere.
Our title makes a few references to the Yes, you may say, what can we do with
world food crisis. 200 million people were these problems, how can we deal with We must clearly state that the United Na-
affected by the food shortage last year, 200 them. You cannot easily solve the demog- tions should have a project on this.
million people cannot find enough food. It raphic structure, food supplement and
went up to 400 million. The most impor- supply. We have to concentrate on the third Here you have to visit Moscow and
tant reason for this hunger in the world is thing, namely the war. Kyiv. Currently, Kyiv is being bombed by
the demographic structure. Population Russian armies. What does this mean?
growth in the world is higher but there is It seems that the number of people who Here we see that they do not respect an-
no rapid and uniform food production. die of hunger will increase by 80 million, yone. It is very important to say this in the
there are such estimates. One of the biggest presentation, the Turkish government is
The second is climate change because, reasons is the war between Ukraine and trying to do something.
especially in some regions like in Africa, Russia. Because these two countries are the
some parts of Central Asia and South Asia, countries that supply the most food in the We have to do everything and here I
the climate is changing so fast that they do world. Especially in Africa, the Middle want to say to my Russian friends. Stop
not have the opportunity to produce eno- East and elsewhere, these countries are this war, stop this aggression. Russia has
ugh food. There is a very serious popula- unable to obtain food because those two lost its political and economic role, the
tion growth in most of these regions. are at war, and it will cause great distress. Russian people have been suffering for de-
Population growth and climate change go cades. Russia lost this war, at least in part.
hand in hand. 23 million tons of food that will go to Af- Russia’s military reputation is much diffe-
rica or elsewhere are waiting in Ukraine, rent now than it was three or four months
Another situation is wars. The most star- but they cannot go. Cannot leave Mariu- ago. Russia can only win if it war. The Rus-

115

sian government must be told to stop impose sanctions. That is the problem.
this war. That is why I say, at least right now,

Every new day is a new chance. It Russia should end this war so that 20-
will take us some time, but we have 30 million Russian people do not die
to do it. We need to take take the ini- of starvation.
tiative to renew relationships. Russia,
the largest country in Europe, which In other words, this war must end
has very serious and interconnected before the problems in Russia occur.
economic relations, immediately star- It is important to end this war before
ted a war and pushed the other side to the Russian people starve. Thank you
very much.

H.E. CABİR DOKO

Dep. Minister of Political System, InterCommunity Relations (North Macedonia)

The inclusion of concepts such as human rights, indigenous peoples, fragile countries, climate

justice and mother earth in this agreement also reinforces the hope that the agreement has a

more sincere attitude and vision to solve these problems

When we look at the different phases of But when we look back, we seem to have issue in the world. The fact that almost the
human history, nature-human rela- neglected our essence too much while all entire civilized world is on the same line in
tionship and communication has always these breakthroughs were taking place. Los- the fight against climate change can of
been one of the central issues. Nature, earth, ing communication with nature means get- course be perceived as a promising devel-
forest, water, sun; It created the common ting away from reality! opment, and although this solidarity, which
concerns of civilizations with different reli- started with the United Nations Framework
gious beliefs and cultural values in different When we were talking about space, atom Convention on Climate Change, gained mo-
geographies and directed their life philoso- and digital age, we lost a very valuable time mentum with the Kyoto Protocol, it is open
phies. Of course, when we make a historical for all of us to realize that the price of acting to debate how far the targeted points have
evaluation, it should be noted that; In the by ignoring the existence of concepts such been reached.
oldest ages of history, the world did not ro- as water, soil, forest.
tate according to the wishes of people, on Are well-written documents and opti-
the contrary, people were living their own It cost humanity dearly. When the aware- mistic statistics enough when the future of
lives by trying to keep up with the workings ness of climate change, which started to de- everyone is at stake? In this context, en-
of nature. The developing, industrializing velop in the 1950s, emerged, the length and forcement of the Paris Agreement is of crit-
world is pushing the limits of the mind in frequency of heat waves had increased vis- ical importance.
every field today and we are talking about ibly in almost every geography of the world.
truly conquering new planets. The observed temperature changes upset the It should be stated frankly that the risks,
balance of our nature. problems and deficiencies posed by climate
change especially affects underdeveloped
We did not see a general agreement of this

116

and developing countries more deeply and distribute the burden equally to all countries sizing a little more empathy. When we think
completely lowers the quality of life of peo- on the basis of countries. How fair is it? We directly that wars cause millions of refugees
ple living in these countries. It should be re- see the same situation happening within every year and that we think about agricul-
minded that bringing climate awareness to countries. Ecological injustice in developed ture, food production and the water and liv-
the forefront in these countries brings with and less developed regions in the same ing world, the necessity of producing
it more complicated processes from time to country reaches striking dimensions. In so- appropriate policies for refugees, both in
time. cieties with famine, hunger, limited educa- shelter, nutrition and in every layer of
tion and health opportunities, special human life, should be brought to the fore-
It is an important issue to reiterate and strategies are needed to reduce the damage front a little more. The ongoing war in
focus on the fact that less developed coun- done to certain countries by climate change, Ukraine underlined that the European con-
tries, both financially, economically and so- when political imbalances and democratic tinent is never privileged in this sense, and
cially, have a much more difficult task in deficiencies are taken into account. it has been bitterly proven how wrong such
this struggle. Because if we briefly listen to discourses and theories are.
scientific reports and analyzes, it will be in- In order to do this, when global climate
evitable to realize that 15-20 countries are policies are created, it should be inevitable The importance and value of the Paris
ahead of the world in polluting the world. It to give a wider place to smaller and devel- Agreement comes to the surface in this re-
should be our common mission to draw at- oping countries as well as to major global gard. The inclusion of concepts such as
tention to the importance of climate justice powers, and to emphasize the attitudes of human rights, indigenous peoples, fragile
in a world where developed countries in the these nations. countries, climate justice and mother earth
north of the globe are responsible for 92% in this agreement also reinforces the hope
of excess carbon emissions. How unfair it Although the emotional approach is often that the agreement has a more sincere atti-
would be to expect equal effort and respon- seen as a weakness in politics, the current tude and vision to solve these problems.
sibility from an individual who lives in a issue is an opportunity to break this preju- When it comes to international problems, it
modern metropolis and contributes directly dice. When war, hunger, thirst, drought, ero- has become a necessity after this moment,
to the environment with negative effects, sion, epidemic diseases are combined with especially for the economically strong states
and from an individual who lives in the climatic negativities, dystopian dimensions to risk sacrificing their national interests if
Amazon in a natural and pure way, and to are reached. Undoubtedly, one of the main necessary!
points of this analysis necessitates empha-

H.E. FİKRİM DAMKA

Minister of Regional Development of Kosovo

More than half of malnourished people and nearly 80 percent of stunted children live in coun-

tries struggling with some form of conflict, violence or vulnerability

Food security occurs when all people at that meets their nutritional needs and dietary Extreme climate change, conflicts or

all times have physical and economic preferences for an active and healthy life” wars, as well as economic downturns are the

access to adequate, safe and nutritious food (World Food Summit, 1996). main drivers of slowdown, especially where

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inequality is high. The COVID-19 pan- duction and that one third of the world’s ex- tries to the brink of famine. Internal con-
demic and the ensuing Ukraine crisis have ports are made from these two countries is flicts have exceeded the number of inter-
left many countries facing increasing levels sounding the alarm bells of a grain crisis. state conflicts, but there has been a
of food insecurity. David Beasley, executive director of the significant increase in internationalized in-
World Food Program, warns. “Ukraine’s ternal conflicts. More than half of mal-
While global data on moderate or severe grain silos are full. Globally, hundreds of nourished people and nearly 80 percent of
food insecurity have slowly increased since millions of people are heading towards stunted children live in countries struggling
2014, the estimated increase in 2020 was hunger. Time is running out. The ports of with some form of conflict, violence or vul-
equal to the sum of the previous five years. Ukraine should be opened to entry and exit nerability.
About one in three people (2.37 billion) in immediately. Access to people in need
the world did not have access to enough should be provided. Otherwise, the nature Both Ukraine and Russia are global play-
food in 2020 – an increase of nearly 320 mil- of inaction will be higher than anticipated.” ers in food security thanks to their essential
lion people in just one year. G-7 countries also issued similar warnings.¹ agricultural commodities such as wheat,
barely, corn and sunflower oil and seeds.
Food safety is not only a regional or A FEW REASONS DIRECTLY AFFECT FOOD global players. The conflict in Ukraine had
global issue that we encountered during the direct effects on world food markets.
Covid-19 pandemic period, but it has be- SAFETY: CLIMATE CHANGE:
come even more important that food reaches Driven by rising prices, the FAO Food
the table in the healthiest way from agricul- It is a key driver behind the recent in- Price Index averaged 160 points in March,
tural lands. Before the pandemic period, crease in global hunger, one of the leading up almost 13 percent from February when it
food safety was affected by reasons such as causes of severe food crises, and a con- reached its highest level since its founding
climate change and environmental pollution. tributing factor to the alarming levels of in 1990. Beyond keeping markets open and
With the continuation of the existing re- malnutrition seen in recent years. Increas- ensuring that food is not subject to export
gional and global problems and the addition ing climate variability and extremes due to restrictions, it encourages immediate fund-
of the pandemic, the contagiousness of climate change negatively affect all dimen- ing for humanitarian food assistance. Faced
Covid-19 made the problem of food reach- sions of food security and nutrition. Hunger with higher input and transportation costs,
ing the table in a healthy way even more dif- is significantly worse in countries where food producers urgently need support for
ficult. The report titled “The 2022 Global agri-food systems are highly sensitive to the next growing season.
Food Crisis”, prepared under the leadership precipitation, temperature variability and
and coordination of the United Nations, re- extremes, and where a high proportion of SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BY 2030:
vealed the danger of future food insecurity the population is dependent on agriculture
and hunger. Global problems of food, water for their livelihoods. Worryingly, countries Even before the COVID-19 crisis in
and climate change, reminded during of are increasingly exposed to climate ex- Ukraine reduced revenues and cut supply
May 14 “Farmers Day”, are becoming more tremes. chains, some countries are known to suffer
and more chronic. Nearly 193 million peo- from food insecurity due to various factors
ple in 53 countries and territories experi- ECONOMIC SLOWDOWNS AND DEGREE: such as conflict, socio-economic conditions,
enced food insecurity in 2021. This number natural hazards and climate change. The ef-
is 40 million more than in 2020. In the re- It is a key driver behind increases in fects of COVID-19 are causing serious and
port; conflicts, extreme weather conditions hunger and food insecurity. They are hin- widespread increases in global food insecu-
and climate change become more predomi- dering progress towards eliminating all rity, affecting vulnerable households in al-
nant economically by the Covid-19 out- forms of malnutrition, whether driven by most every country. In recent years, several
break. The fact that this analysis was made market fluctuations, trade wars, political un- key factors have put the world in a great ef-
before the Russia-Ukraine war is even more rest, or a global pandemic such as those fort to end global hunger and malnutrition in
thought-provoking. The war increased these driven by COVID-19. Most countries all its forms by 2030.
negative conditions even more. Authorities where hunger has risen have experienced
state that the acute hunger level has risen to these periods of economic slowdown and The ongoing impact of the Ukraine crisis
an unprecedented level and that a financing decline. Economic slowdowns and down- and epidemic and the long-term adverse ef-
program should be urgently brought to the turns may cause people to buy cheaper, less fects of climate change have led to signifi-
agenda in order to prevent the global crisis nutritious foods – contributing to the poor cant increases in food prices. Declining
due to excessively rising food and energy nutritional quality of diets. These episodes productivity in many parts of the world, ris-
costs. The vulnerability of countries that are are also statistically associated with in- ing global demand and food supply chain
highly dependent on food and agricultural creased food insecurity. problems have led to declining stocks of
imports to global food shocks intensified grains and oilseeds, with prices reaching the
after the Russia-Ukraine war. Today, there CONFLICT: highest levels in the past decade. The ongo-
are important problems in our world caused ing crisis in Ukraine is threatening world
by climate change, such as biodiversity, bee It is a major threat to food security and agriculture and thus food security. While
extinction and the decrease in the number of nutrition and a leading cause of global food this war negatively affects all aspects of agri-
farmers. The fact that Ukraine and Russia crises. Significant increases in the number culture in Ukraine, it also slows down ex-
represent 30 percent of the global wheat pro- and complexity of conflicts over the past ports from Russia. Therefore, the
decade have eroded gains in food security Russian-Ukrainian crisis, which affected the
and nutrition and have brought many coun- world, also showed its effect in the Balkans.

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KOSOVO GOVERNMENT TEMPORARILY tion in the coming years. Nature positive provide healthy soil and clean water, and
BANS EXPORTS OF CERTAIN FOOD production includes actions towards three also supports biodiversity. This favors cir-
PRODUCTS AMID GLOBAL FOOD, ENERGY interrelated goals to protect nature, sustain- cular use of resources while reducing exter-
AND FUEL CRISIS: ably manage existing food production and nal inputs. and by increasing productivity
supply systems, and restore and rehabilitate while supporting multiple ecosystem ser-
The Kosovo Government has taken a de- natural environments: vices (for example, through rotations that re-
cision to ensure that citizens have access to duce the need for chemical fertilizers while
basic basket products such as wheat, corn, CONSERVATION OF NATURE: promoting soil health and carbon absorp-
flour, oil, salt and sugar. Both Serbia and tion). Restoring and rehabilitating natural
North Macedonia have imposed similar Given how inefficient existing systems environments: While nature-positive farm-
bans on the export of essential products. In are, it is possible to maintain production lev- ing can contribute to restoring one-third of
the case of Serbia, this relates to grain ex- els while halting what is being done to nat- the global land thought to be degraded, ei-
ports, but under the Open Balkan initiative ural ecosystems and preserving marginal ther by re-wildlife or by restoring agricul-
they are exported to Albania and North agricultural areas rich in biodiversity, such tural productivity (and therefore helping to
Macedonia. There is increasing recognition as fertile lands. A recent global estimate avoid additional land conversion for agri-
of the need for nature-positive models of shows that up to 40 percent of global farm- culture), it can also contribute to restoring all
production and supply that “produce more land can be restored without reducing pro- land it can also contribute to restoring all
with less” to ensure an adequate supply of duction if inputs used and crop distribution land and maintaining the quality of our re-
nutritious food for a growing world popula- are optimized while respecting biodiversity sources.
hotspots. Restores ecosystems’ ability to

Hon. MEHMET REİS

CEO of Reis
(Recipient of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honor, 2017)

Intergovernmental climate reports predict that with the effect of climate change, drought will

increase in the world and agricultural yield will decrease
While global climate change poses a life on a global scale.
resource crises, loss of biodiversity, and

risk for food security, it also poses a In the Global Risks report published by failure to tackle the climate crisis.

threat to nutritional security. the World Economic Forum for the year The last seven years have been the

In recent years it has been understood 2022; It is pointed out that five of the 10 warmest in Earth’s history. 2021 was

that global warming and climate change, risks expected in the world in 10 years are recorded as the fifth warmest year on

the impact of which we are feeling more directly or indirectly related to global cli- record.

and more deeply, is not an environmental mate change. Climate change; causes changes in soil

problem on its own, but is the biggest These are; human damage to the envi- structure and natural vegetation. Water re-

threat to agricultural, economic and social ronment, extreme weather events, natural sources are declining and water quality is

119

adversely affected. Drought, flood, desertification, erosion disasters occur more frequently and are
It is observed that with the change of and forest fires are experienced all over the more effective in our country.
world; they threaten the environment, nat-
precipitation regime, some agricultural ural life, our planet and our future. According to the “Climate Assessment”
areas are flooded or dried out and the mat- report prepared by the General Directorate
uration times of plants change. Authorities point out that if necessary of Meteorology, 556 extraordinary
precautions are not taken, the climate cri- weather events took place in Türkiye in
The loss of efficiency in agricultural sis will lead to serious migrations between 2010. In 2020, this number increased to
production, which is the locomotive of all countries, social and economic problems, 984. In 2021, 1,024 unusual weather
sectors, led to the deterioration of food water problems and even conflicts related events occurred.
supply stability and increased prices in to these in the near future.
some countries. It also adversely affected During the Approval of the Paris Agree-
other sectors. Climate refugees are constantly on the ment in the Grand National Assembly of
agenda as part of the global problem. It is Türkiye on April 22, 2021, and also in the
The epidemic all over the world, climate stated that at least 1.2 billion people may final declaration of the Ministry of Agri-
change, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war be displaced by the disasters that may culture and Forestry, Climate Change and
and food nationalism have shown how im- occur by 2050. Agriculture Workshop held in January
portant self-resources and self-sufficiency 2022; “Having an action plan for adapta-
are for countries’ food security and nutri- In researches, it is stated that in order to tion to climate change and a climate-
tion security. feed the world population, which is calcu- friendly agricultural support model is seen
lated to reach 10 billion in 2050, agricul- as an important step.” was stated.
In the last century, human beings did not ture and food production must be 60
respect nature. Biodiversity is declining percent more than its current level. In 2018, T.C. In the “World Food Day”
rapidly. workshop organized with the participation
Intergovernmental climate reports pre- of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Human beings, who pollute the envi- dict that with the effect of climate change, and the United Nations Food and Agricul-
ronment and interfere with the natural life droughts will increase in the world and ture Organization; I stated that the reason
chain, need to get rid of the lifestyle and agricultural yield will decrease. for the natural events that are becoming
profit-oriented perspective that aims for more frequent and increasing in Türkiye
unlimited growth in a limited world. Unless important steps are taken in the and the world is climate change due to
fight against climate change, which will be global warming and that it should be tack-
In the report, which was announced by caused by global warming, food supply se- led as soon as possible.
the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- curity is in danger. We cannot talk about a
mate Change with the code “red alert” for sustainable future if the strategies for com- Reducing the effects of climate change
humanity, it was pointed out that the terri- bating and adapting to climate change can- and adapting production systems to cli-
ble consequences of global warming be- not be implemented as soon as possible. mate risks are important in terms of
came more evident and efforts to protect ecosystem protection, sustainable agricul-
the climate were insufficient. If we do not apply risk management, we ture and food security.
may not have much to do with crisis man-
Global warming is caused by the green- agement. It should be remembered that For nearly 25 years, I have tried to bring
house effect created by the greenhouse “We do not have another world.” the issue of global climate change to the
gases released into the atmosphere are of agenda in universities, in the written and
human origin. If we do not respect what nature offers visual media, in workshops and seminars.
us, if we do not appreciate it, if we do not
As we continue to use fossil fuels such use resources efficiently, if we do not re- Giving the “2018 World Food Day”
as coal and oil, to destroy natural vegeta- duce food loss and waste, or rather if we award increased my responsibility even
tion and to consume more than we need, do not change our habits, we will be help- more. As Mehmet Reis, I will persistently
we will be exposed to the adverse condi- less and lose our chance to live. continue my struggle to create social ben-
tions created by climate change even efit. In the world where 3 billion people,
more. A healthy life is possible with a healthy 826 million of whom are struggling with
world. We must now understand that pro- hunger, do not have access to adequate and
Extreme climate events, which we en- tecting nature means protecting life. safe food, and 2 billion people cannot ac-
counter more frequently due to global cess clean water continuously; Even coun-
warming, have a negative impact on The climate crisis became the most crit- tries with a much better economic situation
human health, especially on agricultural ical agenda item in the world in 2021. It are not comfortable in terms of food secu-
production. reminded us once again in a striking way rity and nutritional security of their own
that we are on an unsustainable path and people, they are worried. I would like to
In order to prevent global warming, en- that we must wake up now. remind you of a saying of Mustafa Kemal
ergy resources should be used in the best Atatürk. He emphasized the strategic im-
way, should not be wasted and maximum For a more livable world, the public, pri- portance of producer and agricultural pro-
savings should be made. vate sector, non-governmental organiza- duction with the words “Nations that are
tions and individuals must urgently deprived of producers become prisoners of
Let’s not forget that natural resources are struggle with this crisis as a whole on the those who produce”.
not unlimited, we should turn to solar, path shown by science.
wind and geothermal energy sources be-
fore they run out. Türkiye is located in the Mediterranean
Basin, which is most affected by climate
The climate crisis threatens wildlife and change. In recent years, we have seen that
food supply security.

120

“THE SESSION OF SAGACIOUS MEN”

Day 2
5th Session

“AFTER COVID-19 AND UKRAINE – RUSSIA WAR”
“PROBLEMS HINDERING PEACE, SUPPLY CHAIN, CLIMATE CHANGE, INVOLUNTARY MIGRATION”

At the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit, the Presidents brought up today's
elements that threaten peace and humanity. In the Sagacious Man Session
moderated by Dr. Akkan Suver, the Presidents emphasized the necessity of
stopping the Ukraine-Russia War we are living through as soon as possible
through negotiations, and emphasized the virtue of democracy and the
importance of freedom. Recognizing that dialogue will contribute to the peace
process and that our differences are our wealth, they also emphasized the
principle of respect in interstate relations.The fact that involuntary migration

caused by ongoing wars and ongoing instability knocked on the door of
countries living in peace and disturbed their tranquility was also included in
the speeches. While explaining how preventing peace means preventing the
future of humanity, the importance of deliberative democracy was brought to
the agenda and it was hoped that an area of peace and cooperation would be

formed as soon as possible instead of war.

121

H.E. ABDULLAH GÜL

President of the Republic of Türkiye (2007-2014)

Severe climate change was already being felt. Various meetings were always held on this issue,

but recently, fires, disasters and droughts have started to bring those who do not understand the

seriousness of the business to a much more understanding point

My Dear President Colleagues, Dear pect, I listened carefully to all of their spe- to be experienced in the countries that re-
Participants, eches, and we all benefited from their va- ceive immigration.

Dear Dr. Akkan Suver, President of the luable ideas.

Marmara Group Foundation and the cha- Unfortunately, the time we pass through Problems in food supply and food secu-

irman of this session, as the world today is not a period that will rity were the issues that the world had al-

Today, I am thrilled to be here together. be written in golden letters in the future. ways feared, it eventually has become

After taking a break from the pandemic, Many problems occur at the same time. more serious. According to the statements

we are all together again today. Success- The Russian-Ukrainian war started three made by the United Nations Secretary-Ge-

fully convening the Eurasian Economic months ago. But while this war launched, neral in the last weeks, the number of pe-

Forum for 25 years is truly extraordinary. significant global issues were continuing ople who cannot get enough food and

I once again congratulate Mr. Suver and simultaneously. Let’s review them: The those who don’t know what they will eat

his friends on this achievement. Covid-19 pandemic caught us all off tomorrow has increased to 1.5 billion. But

Regretfully we could not come together guard, and almost 6 million people died much more dangerous is that 250 million

physically even during the pandemic, but worldwide. people fall into the clutches of hunger. We

we did not neglect these meetings in the Severe climate change was already saw these figures together in the official

electronic sphere. The determination here being felt. Various meetings were always documents of the UN, in the secretary-ge-

is above all kinds of appreciation. There- held on this issue, but recently, fires, di- neral’s statements a week ago, and we

fore, I congratulate you again. sasters and droughts have started to bring were horrified.

We have always listened to the esteemed those who do not understand the serious- Again, while this war continues, there is

Presidents, I have very special memories ness of the business to a much more un- an economic problem that all countries

with them, and together we have contribu- derstanding point. face. The fragilities in the economies are

ted significantly to developing relations The increasing irregular migration reac- such that inflation has started to be experi-

between their respective countries and hed its most profound level after the 2nd enced again as an economic reality that

Türkiye. Some of the Presidents know World War. Immigrants also continued to everyone feels and disturbs.

Russia much better because they were to- feel like second-class citizens. Serious so- Of course, while all this is going on,

gether in the former Soviet era. In that res- cial, cultural and security problems began everyone will be surprised and upset about

122

the fact that so much money is being spent on the other side. In addition, as for the Security Council. But when we look at it
on armaments. On one hand, we have seen shortage of food, the grains produced by from the point of view of realism, unfor-
that the amount of money spent on defense these two largest grain-producing coun- tunately, such an opportunity for Russia
and armament in the budgets is increasing, tries, known as the “breadbasket” in the has emerged.
However it is clear that more money sho- world, were almost sent to rot. There are
uld be spent on education, sustainable de- significant efforts how to save them again. Another surprising thing while the war
velopment, and health. Türkiye is making substantial efforts in has been going on is the fact that the pe-
this direction. Of course, this should al- ople of Ukraine are fighting so much.
With all these harmful incidents, the ways be appreciated. Many people thought there would be no
Russia-Ukraine war continues in front of resistance.
everyone with all its violence and destruc- My Dear President Colleagues,
tion. Nobody can say, “I didn’t know, I Dear participants, This showed us that the Ukrainian pe-
didn’t see.” Could this war have been pre- We all know that diplomacy is the most ople did not want to live in a regime like
vented? effective tool to prevent war. Starting a Belarus. They want to live in a regime si-
war is easy, but ending a war is very diffi- milar to the one of the Czechs, Romani-
Everyone knows that there is a large cult. To avoid a fight, it is necessary to ans, or Estonians and are eager to fight for
Russian-speaking population in eastern show extraordinary diplomatic effort, pa- it. In other words, they prefer democracy
Ukraine. To prevent this war and establish tience, determination, and sincerity for a and do not desire to live in an authorita-
an order that would enable that population great compromise. rian regime. We witnessed how selflessly
to live happily as equal citizens in Ukraine, It is undeniable that more painful, deva- the Ukrainians, who returned to fight after
as you know, the Normandy 4, consisting stating, and long-term hopeless results will taking their wives and children to the bor-
of Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia, be encountered for all parties when we der, defended their land.
came together in Minsk with the leaders- step out of the diplomatic line and embark
hip of the OSCE. on the path of war. This is what happened They will naturally determine the fate of
in the Russia-Ukraine war today. When their country. This resistance also has in-
They worked, struggled, and even ended talking about the Russia-Ukraine war and ternational legal legitimacy. When we look
up with an agreement in 2014 and 2015. all these problems, it is as if the events in at the Helsinki Final Act, which was sig-
The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Syria, in the south of Türkiye, the drama, ned within the Conference on Security and
was established to ensure the implementa- migrations, hunger and misery are all out Cooperation in Europe convened in 1975
tion of the decisions. of the world’s agenda. We see no lessons during the Cold War period, the sovere-
from these incidents in this current war. ignty, equality, and territorial integrity of
The reports of the OSCE Monitoring What we saw before in the Middle East, countries had become a part of internatio-
Mission showed many problems in the Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria is nal law, in which each country had the
performance. now happening in Europe. The devastating right to choose the bloc for its security pre-
scenes are currently in Europe. The sparks ference. Indeed, while all this is standing
Neither side was very reconciled. The of war were predetermined much earlier. still, no one has the right to say that you
first to lead this observer group was my As I said, a solution could have been for will not use your choice like that and oc-
former undersecretary from the Ministry the population in Ukraine. cupy a country.
of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ertuğrul Under all these conditions, Ukraine’s ef-
Apakan. I always heard from him that forts to become a member of NATO and After the war began, significant changes
there was an atmosphere as if the parties the Western and NATO member countries’ took place that no one expected. Europe
were “negotiating the terms of the war” encouragement for the membership, in my took a very determined stance against Rus-
rather than “to make peace and reach a opinion, these were not very suitable for sia because it remembered the memories
conclusion.” Our ambassador, a very ex- realities of the region. of the 2nd World War. We all know that
perienced diplomat, was very worried and I think Ukraine, like Finland, should be- until the Poland invasion, some major Eu-
told me many times that the war was app- come a member of the EU and feel com- ropean countries tended to behave more
roaching, and nobody was trying to make fortable under the European security naively and understandingly toward the in-
peace and find a solution. umbrella instead of joining NATO. Be- vading forces that started the war. But
cause Russia, which suffered a significant when the invasion of Poland showed that
As a result, 6.5 million of the country, trauma after the collapse of the Soviet things were going to other stages, they
with a population of 45 million, mainly Union, should not have been given a pre- took a firm stand, even if they were late.
emigrated to Poland. text. Frankly, Russia saw this as an oppor- This time, remembering these memories,
tunity. everyone suddenly came to their senses
Thousands of civilians lost their lives. Let me be clear; there is no justification and took a definite stand. Undoubtedly, the
Tens of thousands of soldiers died on both here; this is against international law. Be- most important thing here is Germany’s
sides of the war. And 20 percent of Ukrai- cause recognizing the territorial integrity position. No one, mostly President Putin,
ne’s territory is occupied. and sovereignty of the countries that are predicted that Germany would take such a
members of the UN is inevitable, especi- definite side and place.
We see with our eyes that the most sig- ally by a country that is a member of the
nificant destruction after World War II is It is an excellent determination for a co-
happening. We only saw these in old do- untry that is so dependent on energy to
cumentaries. Now we witness those sce- build the Nord Stream 2 and then say they
nes live on television, how cities are would not run it. Despite everyone’s insis-
destroyed.

Of course, while all this was going on,
troubles began to be added to the problems

123

Dr. Akkan Suver, President of the Marmara Group Foundation, introduced a group of Young Marmara people who took an
active role in the preparation of the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit. In acceptance; Mahmut Saklı, Mustafa Ergin, Bilal
Bilici, Att. Belgin Tanrıverdi, Gülçin Güngören, Nimet Ulubay, Rahmi Dilek and Att. Murat Ali introduced themselves to
11th President Abdullah Gül. Dr. Akkan Suver also made a presentation about the Summit participants and the program.

tence, at NATO meetings, one of the issues they would establish a strong army, spare tiations with great sincerity no matter
we discussed the most was that some co- much money for military expenditures and what, and strive to end this war. And it is
untries should increase their defense con- the army, and arrange their budget accor- inconceivable that humanity, which has re-
tributions. It was to expand it to over 2% dingly. Therefore, we see the results of this ached the highest level of consciousness,
of their national income. While no one else war all over the world. should turn a blind eye to open-ended des-
could convince Germany, this war did, and truction with its own hands.
as a result, they decided to make substan- When we look at the financial costs, it
tial military investments. is excruciating for humanity. An additio- Dear Friends,
nal $40 billion aid package was passed in I want to end my words as follows: Of
All this, of course, led to many structu- the US Senate recently. Again, according course, every war comes with its own bur-
ral changes in Europe and the world. to the statements made by respective so- den. Of course, this burden deeply shakes
urces, the cost of supporting Ukraine since the warring parties, their regions and the
Dear Friends, the beginning of the war has been 100 mil- whole world and will continue to vibrate it.
When we look at the point reached lion dollars a day. For the first time, the EU Humanity and everyone lose. It is a matter
today, there is a loss for both sides as no decided to provide military support and of mentality.
lessons have been learned from history. provides 2 billion euros as military aid. Ultimately, it is about the mindset of sta-
Therefore, instead of a “win-win,” there is Britain, one of the countries that provided temen, administrators, politicians, and
“lose-lose” situation. When we look at the most of the weapon aid, decided to offer those who have to make all these critical
Ukrainian side, we see destructions and long-range weapons. Russia declared that decisions. Therefore, as long as this men-
deaths. On the other hand, Ukraine should it spent 300 million dollars daily in the tality does not change, unless a “peace
be able to protect Odessa, and of course, war. Now, when you add all these toget- mentality” is formed instead of fighting
this should not be allowed to be occupied her, such massive amounts come out that with a war-oriented approach, heroism, re-
in any way because then Ukraine will not currently, humanity allocates that amount venge or other motives, humanity will
have a coast on the Black Sea. Even if that of money for war. But we all know that continue to suffer these pains.
place is protected from such a danger, it when we come together to help countries That is why our wish is to stop the war,
turns out that they lost de facto Donetsk in hunger and misery, the amounts that not only here but also in other places; there
and Luhansk, as in the cases of Abkhazia everyone commits are very minimal. The are tough fights and battles that we ignore
and Ossetia. It is unfortunate, but this is the realization of this collaboration is someti- because this war deeply hurts people. Of
actual situation. mes a dream. But this money can be spent course, it is necessary to support the nego-
Let’s look at the Russian side. While without thinking about the war. tiations, diplomacy, and sincere mediation
Russia was concerned about Ukraine’s to end all of this and to appreciate those
NATO membership, countries such as Fin- When it comes to such a point, it inevi- who use these tools.
land and Sweden, who carried out their fo- tably becomes pessimistic. But again, dip- Once again, I would like to thank Mr.
reign policies on neutrality in history, were lomacy is always the solution in the end. Akkan Suver and the Marmara Group for
so afraid that they also decided to become Therefore, stopping this war will be an ex- bringing us all together after two years and
a member of NATO at any cost. This also cellent service not only for the two coun- allowing us to share our ideas with the
had effects worldwide. Even Japan said tries and but also for the entire world. public and this audience
that for the first time after World War II, Everyone should contribute to the nego-

124

H.E. MARINKO ČAVARA

President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The authorities our children admire are not scientists, writers or artists. Ethical morality is no
longer taught as a subject, even in schools. But current global trends are warning us that we

need to stop and ask ourselves if our behavior is a recipe for disaster

Dear Mr. Suver, Members of the Mar- We had utopian ideas and dreams when from our mistakes.
mara Group Foundation, Ladies and we were very young, and now dystopian Maybe we do not see our actions as
Gentlemen. It is a real honor to be here predictions seem to dominate the public
again. To meet friends and exchange sphere. Personally, I am an optimist and ge- wrong and selfishness is coming into play
views. To listen to interesting speakers, nerally convinced that out of any bad si- again, as Covid has shown us our lack of
their analysis, ideas and expectations for tuation something good will come out. If solidarity. We are afraid to sell the surplus
our coming future. nothing else, at least I have learned a lot of food, even though our actions threaten us.
lessons. The current situation in the world We are afraid of starvation which may
I feel just like all of you, relieved and sa- shows that difficulties and hostilities are cause uncontrolled migration. We dread the
tisfied because we are together again, face becoming more and more open and they idea of giving up and austerity. Because it
to face as the plague is behind us. demand the alliance of the minors. is not compatible with the norms of econo-
mic profit growth that societies are trying
I hope the Covid-19 epidemic is gone fo- I have some concerns. It seems to me to achieve. Fear is running our lives again.
rever, we will not meet again and we will that we have learned nothing from history
return to a normal process. According to and where the alliance will lead. The chaos For most European politicians, this is the
the latest estimates of the World Health Or- created around us can be a chance for a bet- beginning of a new era. Just like how
ganization, more than 14.9 million people ter and more just world order. I am talking things do not go back to the way they were
in the world have died directly or indirectly here about all the crises that are chaotically after every dramatic event, we always hope
due to Covid-19. threatening world peace and stability that this will be an opportunity for creation and
we are seeing right now. We are just saying the beginning of a new era. For this reason,
We cannot say now if these numbers that there are times like this. Here in Eu- we see a new beginning every day, whether
would have been different if we had been rope, the war has disrupted the energy and we want it or not. Because we think we
truly charitable, but there is a fear that it food chain in our region, even globally. But control everything. However, this is the be-
will come back to us like a boomerang in can the goals of a war ever be justifiable? ginning of a new era. Our focus has com-
the form of a rich-poor divide, new epide- It seems to me that we have not learned pletely shifted to materialism. The
mics and new unknown plagues. The fu- authorities our children admire are not sci-
ture has always been uncertain.

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Hon. Dr. Akkan Suver extended the
gratitude of the Marmara Group Foundation

to H. E. Marinko Cavara

entists, writers or artists. Ethical morality ons, from Africa and Latin America to to this problem, but there is no single solu-
is no longer taught as a subject, even in Central Asia and the Middle East. The soo- tion to the problem. There are many ways
schools. But current global trends are war- ner the war ends, the less the result. Howe- and we must eliminate all forms of selfish-
ning us that we need to stop and ask our- ver, the negative effects are always here. ness, be more sharing and more optimistic.
selves if our behavior is a recipe for Since Russia provides 19 percent of the
disaster. world’s natural gas and 11 percent of oil, In 2019, world military spending is over
the cutoff here affects us very seriously. $2 trillion, which is about 2 percent of the
Man is not just a substance. Yes, food, Global Gross Domestic Product. About 9.8
water, and nourishes matter. But not caring Now the question we have to ask here is, percent of the Global Gross Domestic Pro-
for others destroys everything, both mate- are we on the brink of a new world war? duct was devoted to healthcare. Spending
rial and non-material. Thus, there has been Pope Francis spoke long ago that World is currently unevenly distributed. Health
a shortage of not only food but also moral War III would be fought with only stones and military expenditures, global spending
norms in our societies. In the background and sticks. has become almost 80 percent of Gross
of every war, human suffering and huma- Domestic Product.
nitarian crises are limited to the war-torn Will the mutual threats of the great po-
region. But it also helps that we feel the ef- wers be realized in the struggle for sovere- Countries spend a lot of money on ar-
fects of the slower growth of the global ignty, or are we really on the verge of a new mament. With modern warfare, the defini-
economy, higher inflation and other fac- global and universal war, a nuclear catas- tion of weapons is changing again. Modern
tors, as can be seen in the war in Ukraine. trophe? Will our planet, our world, be des- technologies may not actually be designed
troyed? Will it be remembered with to be used in wars, but we see that even so-
The Organization for Economic Co-ope- destruction? A few years ago at this sum- cial networks can be a tool of war and hac-
ration and Development shows that infla- mit, one of the speakers said that the Cold kers’ attacks can serve new types of attacks
tion could increase by two and a half War era is over and the Warm Peace era has and cyber warfare is carried over from
percent globally due to this war, and this begun, and it really was. movie screens to reality.
will be felt much more deeply, especially
by the poorest people of every society. It is Now the geopolitical map of the world All wars end in negotiations. We need to
estimated that we may also encounter is changing, the atmosphere is quite grim. sit down and discuss, we need to negotiate,
socio-economic unrest. States are advised The atmosphere is getting warmer and hot- and we need to establish a dialogue.
to invest in long-term energy security due ter. Unrest prevails in all quarters. From
to disruptions in energy supply. new divisions and new alliances to the food No war has a single winner, war has no
and fuel crisis. The more powerful armed winner. Celebrate as much as you want, but
The effects of war can be felt long and nations are constantly feeding from fear there will be serious humanitarian tragedies
deeply, especially in developing countries and tension. So are we on the verge of self- and suffering. It is necessary to seek pea-
that depend on food and international aid. destruction alongside climate change and ceful solutions to crises. Ladies and Gen-
International Monetary Fund analysts pre- other threats? What should we do? Can a tlemen, I believe we should all contribute
dict that rising food and fuel prices could person change anything? Sometimes it to the times we live in, for the earth and the
pose a higher risk of unrest in some regi- seems to us that there is only one solution planet, for every inhabitant, and for a bet-
ter tomorrow.

126

H.E. EMIL CONSTANTINESCU

President of Romania (1996-2000)
(Recipient of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honor, 2016)

The aggression perpetrated by Russia, leaving aside the war crimes and the crimes against hu-

manity, must be examined under the obligation of respecting the international treaties

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Gu- The appearance of new states at the end sobeyed and the rule of law will be repla-
ests, Dear Friends, of the Cold War was performed within the ced with the rule of force, creating a dan-

The war in Ukraine has immediate and limits established by the borders agreed gerous precedent going back to the

long-term consequences both on global upon at Versailles, at Helsinki, both as far pre-Second World War times, when peace

peace as well as on the food and energy cri- as the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, for- treaties were, in fact, a preparation for a

sis or on involuntary migration. mer Yugoslavia, or the USSR are concer- new war.

It is all the more serious as it threatens ned. The acceptance of a peace that would

all that was built in the field of a global The aggression perpetrated in Donbass, agree to the annexation of territories as a

order based on the rule of law. Lugansk and the annexation of Crimea is, result of a war of aggression and under the

In order to understand the complexity of in the first place, an attack of a state against blackmail of the threat of nuclear weapons

the phenomenon that we experience today, another state, against its integrity and bor- will encourage other countries to make no

it is my belief that it needs to be approac- ders. This is all the more serious, as it is efforts for social and economic develop-

hed from a legal, historical, ideological and perpetrated against a state which gave up ment, but instead, use the financial resour-

political point of view. its nuclear arsenal for Russia. The effect of ces obtained from arms selling to increase

From a legal point of view, one needs to such an action is to discourage any country their military potential and use them for

mention the fact that the 77 years of peace that has nuclear arms from giving them up, aggressive purposes.

since the end of the Second World War and will likely stimulate the nuclear arming The aggression perpetrated by Russia,

were possible because all combatant coun- of more states, in order to be able thus to leaving aside the war crimes and the cri-

tries respected the treaties of Versailles of resist attacks with conventional weaponry. mes against humanity, must be examined

1945, strengthened by the Helsinki Confe- The international debate over the long- under the obligation of respecting the in-

rence of 1975, by the USSR treaties that term consequences of the war in Ukraine ternational treaties. By invading Ukraine,

the Russian Federation took on as a suc- should be focused on the following issue: Russia overstepped the provisions regar-

cessor country of the USSR. They guaran- will the international order based on the ding sovereignty meaning the right of

teed territorial integrity, by respecting the treaties responsible for maintaining peace every state to sovereignly decide upon its

delimitation of borders. in Europe be preserved, or will they be di- security, and it also overstepped the terri-

127

Former President of Romania, Acting President of the “The Levant Institute” the argument that the current political and
H.E. Prof. Dr. Emil Constantinescu, signed the Memorandum of military ideology of the Russian Federation
Understanding with Dr. Akkan Suver President of the is using regarding the danger of a Western
Marmara Group Foundation at the Summit. threat is completely false.

torial integrity. responsible for the changes in Eastern Eu- Further developments of the former
The main effect of the ending of the Cold rope, leaves aside the huge contribution of communist countries of Central and Eas-
the Russian people to these events. It was tern Europe and of the former Soviet re-
War was the cessation of the nuclear threat the Russian scientific and cultural elites publics regarding the Partnership for
in Europe. The first event was the unilate- which revived the spiritual and religious Peace, were accomplished by their free
ral giving up, without any conditions to the values, managing to liven the masses will, without pressure, as well as the EU in-
nuclear arsenal of Belarus, which was, at which then brought to power the reformist tegration of the former communist coun-
the time, greater than that of the United administration of President Gorbachev, tries of Central and Eastern Europa, which
Kingdom and France altogether, and its who accepted a constructive dialogue with saw it as an opportunity for economic and
transfer to Russia. The giving up of its nuc- the West in order to end the Cold War. social development.
lear arsenal by Ukraine, which was larger
than that of the United Kingdom, France In 1989, under the influence of the pe- From an ideological point of view, one
and China altogether, and its transfer to the restroika and glasnost reforms of the needs to have a mirror perspective on de-
Russian Federation, was performed under USSR, the proper conditions were created nazification and de-Sovietization. An ar-
the protection of the Budapest Treaty of for the exit of the Central and Eastern Eu- gument that needs to be removed from the
1994; through the respective treaty, the ropean countries from the sphere of influ- discussion is that concerning the de-nazi-
United States, Great Britain and the Rus- ence of the Soviet empire and their exit fication of Ukraine. Obviously, there are
sian Federation guaranteed Ukraine inde- from the Warsaw Pact, followed by their right-wing extremist groups in Ukraine, but
pendence, sovereignty and territorial integration in NATO and the European they are not more numerous or stronger
integrity. Union. than those in the United States of America,
Great Britain, Germany and Italy, or any
From the point of view of recent history, Later on, in 1990-1991, the dissolution other country in the world.
the international crisis generated by the of the USSR occurred, following a treaty
Ukraine war is a consequence of a misun- signed in a cabin in the Belavesha forest, To extend the idea of Nazification to the
derstanding over the past three decades. It by Boris Elţin, president of Russia, the first entirety of Ukrainian society is completely
is a false perception of the end of the Cold democratic president of Belarus, the physi- false. What is worse, is the concept of “de-
War and the dissolution of the Soviet cist Stanislav Șușkevici, and Leonid Krav- Nazification” is not opposed by the con-
Union, generated by the tendency of poli- ciuk, president of Ukraine. They were cept of “de-sovietization”. The
tical and Western commentators to interp- followed by the independence declarations Sovietization was not analysed at the end
ret them as a victory in a war they did not of other soviet republics of the USSR: the of the Second World War, because of the
fight. The propaganda of the Putin regime Baltic countries, the Republic of Moldova, opposition of strong Communist parties in
uses as motivation for the Ukraine aggres- the Caucasian republics of Georgia, Arme- Italy and France, to Soviet agents working
sion, a discourse in which the USSR dis- nia and Azerbaidjan, and the republics of in the United States, which prevented any
solution is presented as a major historical Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Uz- discussion on the crimes of Communism
drama, caused by the West, which would bekistan, Tadjikistan and Turkmenistan. and on the fact that sovietisation led to
justify the enhancement of the military ca- more victims within the USSR population
pabilities of the Russian Federation. In this historical moment with exceptio- than during the second world war.
nal consequences for world peace, the West
This approach, which considers the West had no involvement, which demonstrates There was no discussion on the USSR
genocide, during which representatives of
various ethnic groups were deported and
massacred, their identities touched upon;
among these victims were the Holodomor
of Ukraine and millions of Ukrainian pea-
sants were starved and finally decimated,
when the agricultural production of Uk-
raine was exported in the West, at dumping
prices.

The last decade was marked by the ex-
cesses of the progressist ideology, which,
despite calling for an inclusive society, en-
couraged the sanctioning of opinions out-
side of the mainstream tendency, which
they considered outdated. The “cancel cul-
ture” or “cancel history” trends, promoted
by American academia, are dangerous con-
cepts, even if they were not put into prac-

128

tice on a social level. They remind us, who under the rule of the countries of Eastern cluding the perpetrators forgiven by their
are the first democratic presidents of the Europe, who are regular speakers at the Eu- victims, benefited from.
former Communist countries of Central rasian Economic Summit, continued the
and Eastern Europe of the nefarious effects democratic path internally and the peace- Should this experience have been better
of the Marxist ideology that we experien- ful cooperation externally. known, most of the dramatic events asso-
ced in the second half of the 20th century. ciated with the revolutions of Africa and
We, the democratic presidents present in the Middle East would have been avoided
From a political point of view, one refers this panel have the right and obligation to by tailoring democracy to the social and
to the defence of democracy. take a stand in order to defend the truth of cultural particularities of the countries of
recent history, because we were not only this area. The first victim of the state of
The peaceful manner of changing the so- the protagonists of the first change of the war, accompanied by censorship and pro-
ciety proved its viability over the past three totalitarian regimes into democratic ones, paganda is deliberative democracy. Let us
decades, both internally and on the level of through peaceful revolutions, an unprece- imagine what would the Euroasian Econo-
international relations, by transforming dented change in the entire history of hu- mic Summit be like in a totalitarian at-
Eastern Europe, once an area of permanent manity, but were also part of the later mosphere. Fortunately, the Summit
conflict, into an area of peace and coope- establishment of democratic states, through organized by the Marmara Group Founda-
ration. Even if most people from the gene- a model of social reconciliation, which all tion is a democratic one and I am certain
ration of Havel, Gonz, and Jelev are no representatives of the former regimes, in- that it will always remain like this.
longer with us, those who followed them

H.E. MLADEN IVANIC

President of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2014-2018)

There is new destruction every day. Taking measures to stop the war is the most important thing

Being here is very important. After the and 2nd World Wars. We are again in the same dilemma about

pandemic, we went back to normal- We are at an important point in where where to go. First, the pandemic was a

ity. To tell the truth, I missed Istanbul a lot we are going. After the First World War, message. Thousands of people die every

during these 2 years. I am more hopeful there was a completely different world of day. Everything is falling apart. There are

after seeing this place. isolation, fascism, and separation. millions of refugees.

In the last 2 years, we have witnessed After the Second World War, there was There is a new ruin every day. Taking

two things that are important in the long a cold war. There were very different bi- measures to stop the war is the most im-

term. The first is the epidemic, the second lateral relations in terms of general agree- portant thing.

is the war in Ukraine. ments and trade. There were positive If the modern world, so do we, adhere

I believe that the impact of these on the developments such as the World Bank and to the agreements of the great states, we

world will be greater than those of the 1st the United Nations. will find only chaos and a lot of trouble in

129

front of us. I come here from Bosnia and the same approach, supported by Türkiye I think the way of fixing things starts
Herzegovina. Perhaps the last place where and Croatia. with developing a versatile perspective to
international interventions were success- take precautions against the wars of the
ful. Because Russia, America and the Eu- Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, prob- great powers. Thank you so much for
ropean Union signed an agreement with lems on top of problems… inviting me here.

Conflicts, conflicts, conflicts…

H.E. VACLAV KLAUS

President of the Czech Republic (2003 - 2013)

Finally, it was before the Ukraine war and its devastating impact not only on Ukraine
but also – and not less – on Russia and many countries in the vicinity.
The Czech Republic is a typical example

It is great to be in Istanbul after so many raised serious questions about the EU’s cal activists and bureaucrats in interna-
years, to be here after two years of commitment to a world without borders, tional organizations to the SARS-Cov-2
mainly virtual contacts and to be here as well .as well as the meaning of multi- pandemic.
without masks. Many thanks to Prof. culturalism and of the nation-state.
Suver and his colleagues and collaborators Finally, it was before the Ukraine war
for making the meeting possible and for It was before Brexit and its attack on the and its devastating impact not only on
bringing us here. It is refreshing to get a a priori postulated non-disputable benefits Ukraine, but also – and not less – on Rus-
chance to meet many good old friends of the “ever-closer union” of politically sia and on many countries in the vicinity.
here. and economically heterogeneous coun- The Czech Republic is a typical example.
tries. It was before Trump and his attack
The times they are a changin’, as Bob on the progressivist ideology in the United Seven years ago, when I spoke here last
Dylan sang almost sixty years ago. I was States and elsewhere. time, I said that “we are facing the desta-
here last time in April 2015, seven years bilization of Ukraine”. I felt already at that
ago. The world was different then in many It was before Covid and the way it ex- time that “we are endangered by the
aspects: It was still at the very beginning posed the undeserved and unsustainable Ukraine crisis”. I was convinced that “the
of a new wave of mass migration, which easiness of life (in Milan Kundera’s terms crisis was home-made and was caused by
has radically changed Europe and the at- “the lightness of being”) in modern era. To the failure of Ukraine to successfully real-
mosphere in the European Union. As a be specific, the fundamental change was ize the necessary post-communist politi-
transit country, Türkiye unintentionally be- not caused by Covid itself, but by what I cal, economic and social transformation”.
came a significant part of it. This crisis call covidism. This is the term by which I I said also that “the Ukraine domestic
describe the reaction of politicians, politi- problems were misused for starting a new

130

wave of confrontation between the West to discuss it strictly analytically, without issues discussed at this year’s Eurasian
and Russia.” This was in April 2015. We emotions and aprioristic presumptions. Economic Summit . We, in the Czech Re-
should not pretend that the problem there The solution will not come from the two public and in the whole of Central Europe,
started in February 2022. As these quotes fighting countries only. It is the task of the are confronted with galloping inflation
of mine prove, some of us saw the situa- international community to help to stop the (luckily not as high as in Türkiye), huge
tion long ago as extremely risky and dan- war, to take an active part in the prepara- budget deficits and growing indebtedness,
gerous. It was adequate to use the term tion of very difficult negotiations, and to with collapsing energy deliveries, declin-
“confrontation” in April 2015. It is, re- help to draft at least the outlines of a fea- ing living standards and with a grim
gretfully, necessary to say “war” now. It is sible solution. Such a solution cannot be prospect of an upcoming recession. Our
a tragic and destructive war. It kills tens of based on prolonging the war into infinity governments are not strong enough neither
thousands of people. It brings huge mate- or till the total destruction of either Russia politically, nor in their ability to act deci-
rial and financial costs. It liquidates the or Ukraine. I have neither the ambition nor sively, consistently and systematically. To
post-WW2 global arrangements. It the political position to suggest the frame- our great regret, we cannot expect from
changes the atmosphere in the whole work of negotiations and basic aspects of them quick and adequate political re-
world. Today’s aggressor is Russia, there is an agreement that could bring a solution, sponses. Saying that is not an empty pes-
no doubt about it. However, that is not all. but I am convinced that serious and mean- simism on my side. It is a sad conclusion
The very fertile ground for a tragic clash ingful negotiations have to start now. It of an old, not necessarily “sagacious”, but
has been under construction for a long was too late yesterday. still analytically minded man. Many
time and the rest of the world has been in- thanks for giving me the floor for sharing
volved in it in many respects. It is too Finding a solution to this tragic and hor- some of my thoughts with such a dignified
early, especially in our part of the world, rifying war is a precondition for solving audience.
other important global, as well as regional

H.E. PETRU LUCINSCHI

President of Moldova (1997-2001)
(Recipient of the Marmara Group Foundation Medal of Honor, 2022)

A new situation has been created. With great regret, the issue of a new world order has failed

to be resolved peacefully

Honorable Audience! These two years, did not know could be of such magnitude, From the beginning, I would like to
since we have not seen each other at as the Covid-19 Pandemic, and we did not mention that despite that, the Marmara
the Eurasian Economic Summit, have think it could happen in Europe, such as Group Foundation, led by our tireless
brought into our lives two events that we the war between Russia and Ukraine. friend Akkan Suver, kept us informed of

131

11th President of Türkiye Abdullah Gül met with Former President of Moldova Petru Luchinschi at the Summit.
Dr. Akkan Suver and H.E. Ertuğrul Kumcuoğlu was present at the meeting.

their activity and gave us the opportunity like a child. We look at something de- Union, humanity became unipolar. There
to communicate online and to express our formed. Looking at what is happening is practically no country in which the
opinions. around us, we see many things that cannot United States has no interests. Meanwhile,
be explained. In this context, we need to Russia, the successor to the Soviet Union,
Today, practically everywhere, we won- think about what to do next. Finally, what has demonstrated its military ambitions. In
der why humanity could not foresee such is the purpose of the development of civi- return, China, which is characterized as a
a development of things, and do their best lization? Everything that happens, in one temperate force, maintaining its neutrality
to stop the catastrophic consequences that form or another, must serve the interests and not being directly and aggressively in-
have taken place and are taking place. of humanity. A world has been formed volved, has developed rapidly economi-
with a poor health and education system. cally and militarily.
I will try to express my opinion on some At the same time, a rich, and very rich
of these issues. The pandemic has shown world have been created. A total of 573 A new situation has been created. With
us how ineffective science is about hu- people became billionaires during the pan- great regret, the issue of a new world order
manity, the ability to maintain human demic. More than 263 million people will has failed to be resolved peacefully. Sur-
health as the first condition for his activ- live in acute poverty due to food prices, prisingly, the dialogue, the negotiations
ity. Hundreds of contradictory recommen- which have risen by more than 30% on av- and the diplomatic way of resolving the is-
dations, hundreds of medications, methods erage over the past year. At a time when sues have proved insufficient to resolve
of treatment. Organization, chaotic man- hundreds of millions of people are facing these contradictions in the world. The sit-
agement. We have all seen these things in extreme poverty, there can be no excuse uation is curious when it is easier to pro-
our own countries. In the end, all that hap- for governments not to address the issue voke some politicians to war, than to call
pened was accompanied by a fierce com- of huge profits and wealth so as to ensure them to a dialogue and negotiations. It is
petition to make more money by the that no one is left behind. For many years, an abnormal thing. Looking at each situa-
companies producing medicines, vaccines and within the International Monetary tion at the political level, we see that they
and medical equipment. Fund, world leaders have been urged to are accompanied by lengthy procedures,
immediately introduce wealth taxes for the setting of inappropriate conditions, in-
In my view, these things have also hap- billionaires to avoid “the largest increase stead of convening together and trying to
pened because since the second half of the in extreme poverty in 20 years.” resolve the issue through dialogue. Today
20th century and the beginning of the 21st the war is in full swing, but its conse-
century, the world has grown dispropor- We know the history and we know that quences are shaping up. It can be said with
tionately. Phenomenal, but the perfor- such situations inevitably lead to social great probability that the Russia-China Al-
mance of information technology, the revolutions. After the collapse of the So- liance was formed.
Internet and all its ancillary equipment, as viet Union and the end of the Cold War, a
well as weapons of mass destruction, have period of development based on democ- Most conflicts today are based primarily
developed very rapidly. At the same time, racy and prosperity was considered to on past events; not on legitimate issues
human health, education and nutrition have begun. But before the world was a under international law, but on a 17-18
problems have remained low. In other major issue - what is the world order in century mentality. The phrase is often
words, we can compare imaginarily with these conditions? Eventually, as I men- used: these lands were ours. Wars and con-
the non-uniform development of a man; tioned, after the collapse of the Soviet flicts break out around these issues. There-
such as the developing head, legs, and fore, the natural course of events is not
hands, face, other parts of the body remain

132

taken into account, but it is tried to solve not agree with the examination of the dis- In my opinion, in case of a conflict be-
the problems from the position of the right pute at the International Court of Justice, tween 2 countries, the UN institutions
of the strongest. Again, we remember that the trial does not take place. must get involved to determine who is the
all this is the result of education, because aggressor. If the aggressor is determined,
we are dealing with a new political elite, I would like to draw attention to a case sanctions against that country are auto-
and we are present at the cardinal changes in which the Court ruled on the conflict be- matically imposed and all relations with
that are taking place. Today’s elite, the tween Ukraine and Romania concerning the countries are interrupted until peace
leaders of the countries, did not witness the the economic zone of Snake Island. The talks are initiated.
tragedies of the Second World War. In fact, case was examined for five years and
neither their parents nor their grandparents ended with a compromise recognized by Creating an atmosphere conducive to
are alive. both parties. So the conflict was exhausted peace remains a pressing issue. The global
and resolved peacefully. Today we have movement to combat global warming and
Today, we have entered a period that is about 30 frozen conflicts in the world (one climate change has developed very widely
much more complicated than the pan- of them is in Transnistria, Republic of in recent decades, but it has unfortunately
demic. There is much to be said about Moldova). Each of them can turn into a been forgotten that any progress is possi-
world security, but what is happening now, military conflict. It would be ideal for each ble only in peacetime. So, it is clear that
in the years since the end of the Cold War, of them to be a decision of the current UN the struggle for peace is secondary. There-
shows that international institutions de- structures, in which to indicate peaceful fore, I want to emphasize the need for a
signed to ensure world order have shown solutions. However, international action is strong peace movement, funded and sup-
total impotence. I am referring to the UN needed to prevent conflict. ported by the massive involvement of peo-
and, above all, to the Security Council. Is ple from all countries, to put pressure on
it not clear that this supreme body has The Russian-Ukrainian war is clear - governments not to launch military action
turned into a discussion club, devoid of there is an urgent need to end military ac- in case of litigation.
real leverage to influence the resolution of tion and start peace talks. There is a lot of
conflicts between different countries. The talk that some of the issues could be re- Now, as a result of the conflict between
most eloquent example is the war between solved through a referendum. But again, Ukraine and Russia, almost all the leading
Russia and Ukraine. The veto makes it im- this had to be a decision by mutual agree- countries are increasing their military bud-
possible to make decisions that would end ment of the parties and the main one, who gets. In other words, the risk of new con-
the war. can organize these referendums. I believe flicts is very high.
that they can be carried out under the lead-
In my view, the International Court of ership of an international body, which We are parting today in a rather contro-
Justice could be used as the main legal could ensure respect for the rights, free- versial atmosphere, with many unknowns,
body of the United Nations. But here too, doms and free expression of the popula- but still with the hope that today’s world
is an essential obstacle. The Court may in- tion. Now we need real action to solve the leaders will succeed in consolidating and
tervene only if both parties to the dispute many problems that have accumulated in reflecting the true wishes of the people -
apply to the High Court. So, if a party does different parts of the world. to keep the peace and ensure a prosperous
development in the world.

Hon. Dr. Akkan Suver
extended the gratitude of the
Marmara Group Foundation to

H.E. Petru Lucinschi

133

H.E. MONCEF MARZOUKI

President of Tunisia (2011 – 2014)

Unfortunately, famine already taken a toll in parts of the Horn of Africa, including

Somalia and a small part of Yemen
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to tion of the Arab Spring was wiped out by war; Tunisia, whose economy has come to
start by thanking the Marmara Group civil war in Syria, Yemen, and Libya, by a a standstill; Egypt, which is also experien-
Foundation and its chairman, Dr Akkan, coup in Egypt, and by an unconstitutional cing political turmoil; and there is Lebanon

for insisting on continuing this meeting putsch in Tunisia. where the state seems to be falling apart.

despite the 2 years of COVID-19 Pande- This crisis is due not only to the failure of In terms of dependence on Ukrainian

mic. the Arab Spring, but also to the failure of corn, we find Tunisia and Egypt again.

Lucikly, we are finally here together in the counter-revolutionaries currently in Wheat, corn, and sunflower oil are central

Istanbul. But, unfortunately, we are mee- power throughout the Arab world. They to the diet of most of the population. If they

ting at a time when, on the other side of the have been totally incapable of dealing with become inaccessible or too expensive, food

Black Sea, a conflict is taking place and has the economic, social, and political crises in insecurity will rise and famine will not be

a significant impact on all of us. these countries. far away. Unfortunately, famine already

The French have the habit of saying: The political situation, which was alre- taken a toll in parts of the Horn of Africa,

“Chacun voit midi à sa porte” which means ady extremely difficult throughout the re- including Somalia and a small part of

that people see things based on their speci- gion, was exacerbated by a severe Yemen.

fic location and situation. economic crisis. Given the continuous po- If food insecurity leads to famine, the po-

Allow me to speak about the impact of litical instability of the past decade, the litical situation will become even more in-

the invasion of Ukraine from the point of economic machine of the entire Arab world secure. Hunger riots could occur. That

view of the citizens of the southern shore of is at a standstill. could lead to coups and an increase in Ille-

the Mediterranean, a region of the world Then came the COVID crisis, which gal immigration rates were already high

that is going through an extremely difficult aggravated this already extremely precari- before the war in Ukraine, but they could

time. ous situation. become a tidal wave. That would be in ad-

As you know, in 2011 there was a great Today, the conflict in Ukraine may ren- dition to migration from Ukraine.

hope for democratic renewal in this part of der the situation even more explosive. This, as you can imagine, would have

the world. However, the “Arab Spring” has Among the 10 countries most dependent political, social and economic impacts on

turned into a real nightmare for all our pe- on Ukrainian wheat, Yemen, which is cur- host countries. We would likely see an em-

ople. The peaceful and democratic revolu- rently facing a real tragedy due to the civil boldening of the chauvinist right, which is

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already strong in European countries. Po- trying to encircle it. And Russia obviously pond by retreating into closed economic
pulist leaders may claim that these refugees chose the wrong response by attacking a networks in order to find a fake impression
pose a threat, in the hope that a wave of sovereign state. of sovereignty.
right-wing nationalism would help them be
elected or re-elected. The second impact is even more worr- However, globalisation is fundamental
ying, namely the return of the rule of force to the economic and social development of
The threat to democracy is not only in over law. Until now, we have all lived in a the whole of humanity.
the Arab world where it has struggled to world where, through international law, we
take root. Democracy is also at risk in its hoped that conquests of one state by anot- Obviously, globalization has its flaws
allegedly historical cradle, namely Western her would no longer occur. and negative effects, but the myth of re-es-
countries. tablishing hostile mini-nation-state net-
However, with the invasion of Ukraine, works is just that, a myth
Ladies and Gentlemen it is clear whether the international order
This brings me to the impact of this war based on the primacy of law over force still This is why all of us, men and women of
on a global scale. prevails. Moreover, the war is taking place, goodwill, have a fundamental duty to do
We can already see three major aspects not “as usual” in poor or underdeveloped everything in our power to ensure that this
of the war that could deteriorate an already countries in Africa or Asia, but in the heart war, which is catastrophic in terms of its
very fragile global community. of Europe, which claims to be the example local, regional, and global impact, not to
The first impact is on the process of de- of democracy, the example of legality, and mention its appalling human cost, is bro-
mocratisation. This process has developed the example of civilisation. ught to an end as soon as possible.
steadily since the 1980s. Unfortunately, it
has come to a halt in the last decade, as we Finally, we are here at a meeting that es- Here I would like to commend the role
have seen a decline in democracy everyw- sentially brings together men and women that Türkiye has tried to play in bringing
here. involved in setting up a globalisation net- the belligerents to halt the fratricidal war. I
The war in Ukraine is a fatal blow to the work in economic, political, and social hope that these efforts will continue and
democratisation process: a non-democratic spheres. We can see very clearly that this that they will eventually bear fruit.
state attacking a democratic state and wan- interconnected network, which made glo-
ting to reduce it to a vassal state. balisation possible, is seriously threatened. Perhaps this assembly can issue a public
A large part of the world’s population statement calling for an end to the war. The
considers that Russia and Western coun- Today, the renewed awareness of their Marmara Group Foundation could even or-
tries have shared responsibility in this war. dependence on global flux of energy and ganise a goodwill mission so that this war
The West wrongly provoked Russia by cereals has made many countries feel quite - whose negative impacts on my region, on
vulnerable. this region, and on the whole world – can
be stopped and so that our wounds can
Some of them may be tempted to res- begin to heal as soon as possible.

Hon. Dr. Akkan Suver
extended the gratitude of the
Marmara Group Foundation to

H.E. Moncef Marzouki

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H.E. STJEPAN MESIĆ

President of Croatia (2000-2010)

Propaganda, then. Propaganda and public mood in crisis situations. That is what

I would like to speak about, especially having in mind the example of the war in Ukraine
Excellencies, Dear Participants and Gu- general uncertainty, it is that global rea- withdraw. That and nothing else. If you try
ests, Ladies and gentlemen, lignment, especially in Europe, will not end to remind that something happened before

After the break caused by the pandemic, according to Russia’s plans, but not as the the end of February this year, if you try to

we are meeting again as we are used to. West wishes either. And that brings me to a define and describe things as they are, you

The 25th Euroasian Economic Summit is a topic I would like to elaborate on. Let me immediately get the label of a supporter of

good opportunity to exchange views on the say right away: I have never hesitated to Putin and Russia.

world in which we live and to present our say what I think, especially if I can support Therefore, to make it immediately clear:

views on that world and on the prospects it with facts and arguments. And I don’t I am not advocating the Russian President,

for its development. I say we meet as we care if my views are not in accordance with nor do I support the Russian military in-

used to before the pandemic, so it can be the skillfully run propaganda campaign im- cursion into Ukraine. But, I consider it

concluded that we are back to normal.to posed on the vast majority. inadmissible to impose a one-sided image

normal. Propaganda, then. Propaganda and pub- on the public, to promote collective obli-

Wrong! lic mood in crisis situations. That is what I vion, to present things as they are not.

Not only is the pandemic not over, what would like to speak about, especially ha- Although the public, at least in all key

we are experiencing now is - I am afraid - ving in mind the example of the war in Uk- Western countries, has been so prepared by

just a respite, perhaps even a habituation raine. years of propaganda that it accepts such

period in which we will finally begin to And I am going to do that by starting manipulations. What do I want to say? I

consider the abnormal to be normal. But from scratch, and that is already somet- claim that the war in Ukraine did not start

what is important for the present moment, hing, which is fundamentally different at the end of February this year, nor did it

if we leave the pandemic aside, although from the prevailing narrative. Today we are start in 2014, when the legally elected Pre-

millions of dead cannot just be left aside, allowed, and I use that word quite consci- sident of Ukraine was overthrown and

is the fact that the whole world is in tur- ously, to say only that there is a war in Uk- when Russia, after the referendum - wha-

moil. The war in Ukraine has triggered pro- raine, that Russia is the attacker, that tever we might think of that referendum -

cesses that I do not believe anyone can Ukraine is the victim, and to demand, with and without any unrest, especially without

predict with certainty how they will end. the condemnation of the attackers, that the human casualties, it annexed the Crimean

If there is one thing that is certain in this war end immediately and that the attacker peninsula to its state territory and aided the

136

insurgency in two Russian-majority pro- imagine, are usually Russians, and more everything - even if it is about facts - it
vinces in eastern Ukraine. and more often Chinese. And that lasts not could ruin our ’narrative’; not to resist
for years, but for decades. Only in a very when they tare told that the surrender of
No, the war began when, after the disso- short period of detente politics were films soldiers is not surrender, but ’evacuation’,
lution of the Soviet Union, when Paul Wol- produced in which, for example, a Russian that capitulation is not capitulation, but ’re-
fowitz stated that the United States must and an American policeman or secret agent linquishment of control’; not to rebel - for
never again allow another superpower to acted together against an imaginary enemy. professional reasons - when they are for-
appear on the world stage. This was the There were such movies, but few. ced into an information mold in which the
starting signal for the beginning of the pre- neo-Nazis of yesterday, considered as such
paratory phase of the war, which will get The imaginary enemy is not suitable for because of crimes committed and docu-
into its acute phase after Putin’s famous mobilizing the public. The enemy must be mented outside war zones,by the UN High
speech in Munich in 2008, when the Rus- concrete, familiar, recognizable, identified. Commissioner for Human Rights are sud-
sian President said that the time of hege- Such an enemy in the form of Russians and denly no longer neo-Nazis but brave de-
mony of one super-power is over, ie when Chinese is offered to us, that is, imposed fenders.
he openly opposed Wolfowitz doctrine by the Western entertainment industry
which in the meatime, regardless of who systematically, I will repeat, for decades. People, Ukrainians and Russians, are
the White House resident is, became the fo- dying in the war in Ukraine. And that is tra-
undation of American foreign policy. At the same time, the media, which sho- gic.
uld be free and objective, are being put
However, in order for such a hegemonic under more and more control, they are But that war was preceded by an infor-
policy, which is an open negation of the being directed more and more. Those at mation and propaganda action on a global
multipolar world, to be ’sold’ to the public their helm are aware of this, they know scale. It was preceded by political moves,
in a number of countries, without whose what they are doing and they know whose not always non-violent, to prepare the gro-
support it would not be possible to do what instructions they are following. Journalists und. For what? For what is called the con-
it going on, it was necessary to devise and in the race for daily sensations, but also for flict between democracy and autocracy,
launch a propaganda campaign. I am tal- securing their existence, are probably not although - if it continues like this, democ-
king about an action that has its strategists, always aware that they are turning more racy will fall to its knees, and the autocracy,
its tacticians and its performers, and in and more into lobbyists, then into propa- wrapped in a democratic cloak, will tri-
which the mass media have a key role. gandists and - finally - into war propagan- umph.
dists.
Namely, it has been correctly estimated Remember the beginning of the
that film and television, and then increa- In the past, journalists were expected to war and the news about how Kyiv is under
singly social networks, are the most deadly be objective, impartial, and to offer com- the rain of Russian grenades and how street
weapons. There is an old saying that every plete and timely information. Not so today. fights are taking place in the suburbs. Three
shot is preceded by a word. And indeed, the Today, journalists are expected to choose a weeks later, the British prime minister
word, and more and more the image, are side, to align themselves; so accept silence walks with the Ukrainian president through
weapons with which one can wage war as something normal, because to say the pristine center of Kiev. Saying this, by
even in apparent peace; a weapon that
helps create an atmosphere in which dip- Hon. Dr. Akkan Suver
lomats will become proponents of war, in extended the gratitude of the
which traditionally neutral countries will Marmara Group Foundation to
rush into the arms of military-political alli-
ances, in which it will be possible to con- H.E. Stjepan Mesic
vince the often mentioned ordinary man
from the street that someone is bad just be-
cause he is a Russian, or Chinese; how it is
completely wrong to negotiate with such
people and how they understand only the
language of force, so only war can be
waged against them in order to try to re-
duce them to irrelevant states which, des-
pite the size of the territory and population,
will have no political influence or econo-
mic and military strength.

Do you think I am exaggerating?
Try to remember only movies and tel-
evision series produced primarily in the
United States, which are shown around the
world. Try to remember in how many such
films and series the main characters suc-
cessfully fight against the villains who, just

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no means do I want to say that there was The Ukrainian secret services also know and must be loyal only to the truth, and
no terrible destruction in Ukraine. why: you guessed it - because he suffers their duty in war is to be on both sides, es-
from several diseases, cancer is one of pecially journalists from countries that do
Remember that phantom column of Rus- them, and because he is in a very bad men- not participate in the war, at least not di-
sian tanks that was 50 kilometers long one tal and physical condition. And again, there rectly. No, not a word from anyone!
day, then 90 and finally more than 100. is no one to say: wait a minute, something
And it stood, so they told us, because the is wrong. Has anyone rebelled against the fact that,
Russians have no fuel for the tanks, the sol- not in the program of only one television
diers have no food. And then it suddenly Restrictions on journalists were imposed and not only in one country, anybody who
dissipated, it was no more, but the story of by both sides in the war, no matter how even tries to get out of the prescribed pro-
the incompetent Russian army and hungry much it is not a Russian-Ukrainian war but paganda framework is rudely interrupted
soldiers remained in the subconscious. an American-Russian war, but the fact is in half a sentence? That people are not al-
that the West, using undemocratic methods, lowed to finish their thoughts, to explain
Or, another example. I cite concrete was the first to prevent its citizens from what they are saying, but to be told, I cite
examples so that no one would object to watching Russian television in foreign lan- an example from Germany: ’What I wan-
me making only some principled assess- guages, primarily in English. ted to hear from you is that the war should
ments, without substantiation. Remember be stopped immediately. That and nothing
the television news in which a Ukrainian Was there any propaganda in that prog- else! ’So, there is nothing if the host, and
woman says that Russian soldiers are ram? Undoubtedly there was! But for Rus- that means his television company, does
crying and hungry children, and ’we feed sian propaganda, in this segment, it can be not agree with that. There is no cause, no
them’, she said. The next day, all of a sud- said that it boils down to flatly rejecting all roots, no consequences.
den, Russian soldiers rape and kill, and we Ukrainian accusations and publishing data
are even served a phone call from a Rus- on military successes that are impossible to On the other, Russian, side, those with a
sian woman to her husband - a soldier in verify, that is, verify at the same time. So it ’dissonant’view of things don’t even come
which she tells him: “Rape Ukrainian is permissible to doubt that. With the re- to terms. This, however, does not justify
women, but use protection!” mark that it is necessary to distinguish Rus- denying people the opportunity to say what
sian information, with a propaganda they think in the Western media, which- so
Try to put it together now: hungry and ’spice’, intended for the world from that we are told – are free.
crying, Ukrainians feeding them, killing aimed at its own citizens, and sometimes
and raping them the next day, and their targeted at the citizens of certain countries. The Western public is persistently con-
wives, instead of worrying about their hus- Western propaganda, on the other hand, is vinced that sanctions are hitting Russia
bands returning home alive, even inciting unique, global, beating with all weapons hard, although there is no tangible evidence
them to rape. And it all passes. Today this, and in all directions. of this. At the same time, only occasionally
tomorrow that and there is no one to say: is it possible to break through the timid
wait people, someone is crazy here, so- But should one who speaks the truth and warning that these sanctions will hit the ci-
meone is lying here. No, the Russians are who can support it with evidence be so af- tizens of the countries that proclaim them
in question, and they taught us that the Rus- raid of other people’s propaganda that he like a boomerang, if not tomorrow, certa-
sians are villains. must forbid it? I do not think so. inly the day after tomorrow.

And lest you misunderstand me: I am far And yet the West is doing it. Why? Be- After all, but this is really just a hint: has
from saying that there was no crime. Very cause this is not a conflict of truth and pro- anyone wondered how the former pop
likely they were, on both sides. I am saying paganda, but two propaganda, of which the actor ’grew’ into a mature politician who
this, bearing in mind the experiences from Western one is far more aggressive and knows how to ’break through’ not only to
the wars in which Yugoslavia disintegra- successful. If this is understood, much be- the parliaments of a number of countries,
ted. And then they lied, they lie in part even comes clearer. but also to the Cannes Film Festival? And
today, exactly according to the pattern used how come he has the right word for the au-
when it comes to Russia and Ukraine. Is it strange to anyone that the authori- dience he addresses at every opportunity?
ties in Kiev ’know’ in advance that Russia Anyone who has an idea of how public re-
We have ’learned’, of course, that Putin will organize a visit of journalists to Ma- lations professionals work knows that there
is crazy; we have forgotten that it was once riupol and that on that occasion they will is a large and well-coordinated team at
claimed that he kept his right hand close to present staged citizens-witnesses and who work, a team that has not been operating
his body, because this is typical of an un- will say that the fighters of the notorious since yesterday.
dercover agent - he wants to get the gun out unit Azov from the Azovstal steel plant tar-
as quickly as possible; today we accept that geted the city and its inhabitanst, this hap- And to conclude: we live in an extremely
Putin keeps his right hand close to his body, pened of course before the surrender, so, dangerous time. The public of a number of
in order to cover up that he is shaking, be- not the Russian invaders, but the city and countries has been systematically prepared
cause - of course - he is seriously ill. Today the Ukrainians in it. And they knew that in for years to see only one side, to hear only
we are watching live NTV the Victory Day Kiev before it happened, and foreign jour- one side and, most importantly, to accept
parade from Moscow and we see, beware: nalists who were to visit Mariupol in the only one world power as a God-given ar-
we see that everyone in the stands got light Russian organization were immediately la- biter who will decide what the world we
blankets to roll over their knees, because it beled as “loyal to Putin”. live in will be like.
is cold; yet we accept that Putin is covering
his knees because his legs are shaking. Did anyone say: wait, there is something These are crisis times. Propaganda has
wrong? Has anyone said: journalists can played and continues to play a fatal role in

138

shaping the mood of the public. And the rent, into extremely intolerant of some - overshadow the truth, or rather oversha-
uninformed and misled public is not able, certain - and unwavering proponents of dow the need of citizens to know the truth.
no matter how much all the tools of the de- war. This is true for both sides, although to
mocratic system were at its disposal, to a greater extent for the western one. And that is why my message is: to res-
make the right decisions. tore dignity to journalism, to tear it from
Russia has invaded Ukraine and the im- the deadly embrace of corrupt and inte-
I do not believe that I will live long eno- mediate responsibility for starting the war rests-driven politics, to end wars, to resolve
ugh to see what I remember from the last undoubtedly lies with it. But not exclusive. disputes through negotiations rather than
days of the German Democratic Republic. The war has been prepared for a long time, weapons, and to accept a thesis not from
Then, in front of the camera of East Ger- more in the West, less in Moscow. I know yesterday, not ’invented’ by Russians. Na-
man television, a presenter appeared who, that such an attitude is not popular today, mely that security is indivisible and that no
on behalf of all journalists, read an apology but that is how I see things and I consider one can exercise his security to the detri-
to the citizens because the journalists allo- it my duty to say it. Like the following. ment of the security of another.
wed politics to manipulate them, and thro-
ugh them the citizens. There is no one-size-fits-all solution that Utopia, illusion? If we look at the world
works for everyone. The right solution is around us, we will say: yes, that’s right!
One day, some journalists, and above all just a compromise. But if we do not have a vision of a diffe-
politicians, should apologize for the deca- rent, better world than the one we live in,
des-long deafening and blinding of milli- There is no system that is good for ever- how will we end up?
ons of people who have turned from yone and applicable everywhere. Everyone
peaceful citizens, open to others and diffe- has the right to develop and live as he sees With this question, I thank you for your
fit. And there is no propaganda that should attention.

H.E. FATMIR SEJDIU

President of Kosovo (2006 – 2010)

The everyday images that we see are those which under no circumstance we

would like to have, but this is the reality we are facing, and we must reflect upon it

in order to solve the issue and not repeat it

Human development as an important garding the anniversary of this Summit, tance which the humanity faced.
factor for society progress, sustain- which started in 1998, where are discussed Discussing with and hearing each other,
able, peace and stability. a series of critical importance, on the po- I consider that have been on the function

I want to express my gratitude for the litical, economic, social and cultural as- of the overall good, and as such have con-

invitation to participate in this Summit, on pects, in various environments and places. tributed to the voices that have been con-

its 25-year jubilee. There have been continuous engage- tinuously seeking peace, development and

First, allow me to say a few words re- ments for issues that are of global impor- were in the quest for solutions for certain

139

problems that humanity has faced. The Covid-19 pandemic does not rec- Before everything, it is a moral human
This Summit’s achievements so far are ognize large or small nations. It knows no obligation to do more in this direction.
borders and no state sovereignty. There cannot be human development
highly appreciated, and I consider that this without equality and dignity.
is a motivation and a base for intensifica- Covid is equally dangerous to large and
tion of our efforts to discuss and propose small nations. It strikes relentlessly. The Therefore, we must bring our countries
ideas which are in the function of global death toll is high. They add up to the extent together, we must intensify our coopera-
peace, human development and the greater that we are not serious about dealing with tion on politics, culture, economy because
good for mankind. it. It loses its power as our common con- only with enriching our diversity, we will
sciousness rises in the fight against the achieve the building of the sustainable
Dear participants, virus. Physical distance between people, policies which are in the function of the
The historical developments of the na- as is needed, as recommended by WHO sustainable peace. This human develop-
tions of the globe are different. Each has and national health institutes of all coun- ment cannot be achieved to the point
its own story, a story of crisis and of great- tries, means at the same time human close- where we want it, if we don’t have global
ness. During this journey, many nations ness and mutual understanding. solidarity towards the dangers which are
and their wise leaders have demonstrated threatening it. Today, as never before, we
often enough the ability to overcome their Uniformity in treatment, in this world see how necessary this solidarity in the
encounters with extremely difficult situa- close to 8 billion, with all its racial, cul- face of endangerment of the global peace
tions which have often threatened them tural and religious diversity is essential. is, and how necessary is this solidarity to
with disintegration. And all this has come People are people wherever they are. The face and get over a crisis like this.
at a difficult time, in facing the evil, ha- pain is the same for those who live a bet-
tred, anti-human projects aiming the ex- ter life and for those whose daily needs The Russian aggression towards
tinction of the other. In one way or another, must be covered with less than two dol- Ukraine is a clear example of the open
all countries that belong to the Western lars. Until now many lives have been lost. threat made not only to a nation but to the
Balkans, were involved in the difficult sit- Many newborn children were affected, overall peace.
uations we went through, consequences of pregnant women, people of all ages. Many
which we still suffer to this day important personalities of this world have The everyday images that we see are
While today we are gathered here, we passed away. those which under no circumstance we
are all witnessing a new crisis, a new war, would like to have, but this is the reality
a new threat, which is taking so many Secondly, from what we have experi- we are facing, and we must reflect upon it
lives, disturbing peace and order, and is enced so far in these months of facing the in order to solve the issue and not repeat
contributing to the destabilizing tenden- it. This must awaken the conscience of hu-
cies, which are a global threat. Covid-19, in a global and regional level, manity, and focus to crises that constantly
25 years ago, in 1998, when this sum- we see that the local economies are hit threaten peace and therefore impose the
mit started, my country Kosova was in a very hard. With this a greater risk is posed need to find ways of human development
war. The citizens of my country have gone to human society. This has naturally af- and global solidarity.
through what Ukrainian people are expe- fected the countries with low economic
riencing now, 25 years later. The killings development. My country Kosova, these The strategy of the “scorched earth” and
and the tortures must end once and for all, years is experiencing a huge hit at her the blow and destroying of the economic
so mankind does not have to face them economy. From what is told until now, capacities, especially the industrial ones,
anymore. Once and for all the feeling of 56% of businesses are not functioning. together with many casualties which bring
insecurity and threat must be replaced by Even though there is a level of “adapting” images of horror, have no other aim but to
a sense of individual and collective safety, to the new circumstances, it is noticeable wipe out a sovereign country, wipe out its
which would be in the function of enhanc- that all the fields of activities of general in- people.
ing our everyday lives but also the long- terest are hit hard.
term future. Due to the war in Ukraine, we are wit-
The refugee crisis is the concern these These crises are an open threat to our nessing that beside the other crises that
days, even after many efforts have been lives and our future. These crises destroy were caused by it, among the most impor-
made not to let the destructive and threat- lives in total and in particular the educa- tant is the Hunger Crisis, not only in the
ening policies repeat, which force thou- tion, health and economic sides of it. areas where the war is raging, but also in
sands and millions of innocent civilians to other countries that were supplied by this
leave their homes and go towards the un- As the efforts to find a solution regard- region. The World Food Program’s recent
known addresses. See the examples of ing this have not ceased, we must not stop appeal is not enough to stop this tragedy. A
Ukraine today, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Myan- working towards peace policies towards very energetic approach to tackling this
mar, Nigeria and elsewhere. enabling and maintaining the human de- humanitarian problem is needed which
Firstly, in the last three years together velopment and finding the solutions which could cause further chain consequences,
we have witnessed a profound humanitar- would prevent crisis like these with the primarily endangering the lives of millions
ian crisis the world experienced, therefore refugees and practically make them belong of people by putting their existence in
also our region. in the past history. jeopardy.

Today the need for human development Ladies and Gentlemen
is needed more than anywhere else on the In the face of all this, a more sustainable
societies where the human nature is threat- human development, more secure and
ened and infringed.

140

amore global solidarity would enable the us with the need to adapt to the new cir- lasting reality. Therefore, let’s engage all
restructuring of the New World Order. cumstances, due to the big and fast together, under all circumstances, in all our
changes that are imposed. Many countries countries and societies to be a strong
This permanent danger that is threaten- today face these fast changes in the econ- voice, and to never cease supporting pro-
ing peace, poses the need and inevitability omy, politics, and society, and this big jects that enable human development and
of the restructuring of the new world order. change has touched crucial parts of our guarantee peace.
This order that needs our continuous input lives, wellbeing and existence.
with the developments which are chal- If we see a global peace that is sustain-
lenging is every day. Dear Friends, able, then we can achieve peace with our-
We differ in our languages, cultures, and selves and our efforts.
This new order must be spread on all religions, but this only enriches our diver-
areas, thus creating the equal conditions sity and must be in the service of our uni- Because only in this way we will give
and opportunities for all citizens, all reli- fication, our joint efforts to strengthen the meaning to our efforts, but also to our ex-
gions without ethnic, racial and religious new order, peace, human, political and istence! It is very true and I must say this
discriminations. economic development. once again; I have to say that today’s
Therefore, at the end I say that our ded- world is different from yesterdays. Con-
Therefore, on all environments, whether ication and commitment for peace and sider the dangers posed too many coun-
they are political, diplomatic, science there human development, is the most powerful tries around the globe. Let’s work to make
are needed reflections towards the chal- legacy we can leave to the generations the world of tomorrow better than todays
lenges to the mankind such as: physical, coming after us. and yesterdays. The beauty of this world
economic, social and political insecurities. The world will be much more secure, is in the colorful diversity it has. It is a
not only by the desire for peace and human small world and a big enough house for
Today our societies face a big transition development, but with actual projects, everyone. I believe in human power, in-
which has affected our families and soci- which would make it a sustainable and ternational help and solidarity, and the mir-
eties. This kind of transition is often mis- acles that can be achieved.
understood or misinterpreted has created
many challenges for us and has presented

H.E. FILIP VUJANOVİĆ

President of Montenegro (2003 – 2018)

For many years we have had a continuous debate on the necessity of the United Nations
reform. We have to support that debate, encourage it, and consider concrete ideas responsibly

Distinguished Dr. Suver, Your Excel- I want to use this opportunity to express and congratulate them on the organization
lences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear my highest appreciation to Dr. Akkan of the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit.
Friends, Suver and the Marmara Group Foundation With its tradition and successes, these

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summits have gained high respect. Hon. Dr. Akkan Suver ferences, equality, understanding, and tol-
I also respect your dedication to over- extended the gratitude of the erance. It is the right time to back to these
Marmara Group Foundation to initial values that enabled us prosperity
coming the challenges facing the Covid- and substantial economic progress. The
19 pandemic. Unfortunately, millions lost H.E. Filip Vujanovic only way to strengthen these values is by
the battle against the virus, and it seems working together through multilateral and
like the pandemic will have long-term smaller peoples never stopped. It showed regional organizations.
negative consequences. the weaknesses of existing mechanisms of
cooperation in solving crises peacefully. It For many years we have had a continu-
This summit is an opportunity to ex- showed that Europe must be united in ous debate on the necessity of the United
change opinions on reducing the conse- shared values. That democratic legacy Nations reform. We have to support that
quences of humanitarian catastrophes with must never again be a hostage to the par- debate, encourage it, and consider concrete
effective and sustainable joint efforts. ticular economic interest of some coun- ideas responsibly.
After years of virtual meetings, we are fi- tries. That we shall, again and again, fight
nally back to the classic conferences and for peace. By doing so, we will stop ungrounded
with optimism regarding future common critiques toward multilateralism, a pre-
activities. The cornerstones upon which we have cious value of humanity. These critiques
been building our society in the last 70 often have as a goal fulfillment of particu-
Our primary task is to reiterate the ap- years were solidarity, mutual respect, the lar interests and crumbling of global order.
peal to political leaders around the globe right to self-determination, respect for dif-
to work together in overcoming all chal- Undoubtedly, multilateralism has shown
lenges and solving crises to the benefit of some weaknesses in solving global crises,
humanity. To send a message that there are but thanks to its values, we did not have a
no winners in wars and that peace is the repeat of horrors from two world wars,
only lasting guarantee of stability and which are always there to warn and oblige
prosperity for humankind. To express our humankind. In the end, I want to express
expectation that the war in Ukraine and hope that we will together continue to
clashes all around the globe will end and strengthen and support the regional and
all open issues will be solved by dialogue. global initiatives and encourage once more
all the activities in redefining multilateral
Previous dialogues were mainly the cooperation.
floor for discussing different modalities of
strengthening economic cooperation as an Multilateralism must prevail not only
essential precondition of prosperity. for a safer present but also for humanity’s
Though, peace is a precondition of good better and sustainable future. The Covid19
economic cooperation. The war in Ukraine pandemic and wars oblige us to it.
has deepened the crisis in Europe caused
by the Covid19 pandemic. So nowadays,
along with the health crisis, we also have
war and economic crises in Europe.

The war in Ukraine has shown that the
attempts for domination of big over

A group of participants at the
closing of the Summit

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At the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit, the war
between Ukraine and Russia was the main agenda

At the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit, In response to the current and future res- in the name of peace. The International
where the importance of peace, stabi- trictions on the transfer of energy to Europe Peace Bell was rung at the 25th Eurasian
lity and prosperity for people was brought by Russia, the issue of focusing on energy Economic Summit with the wish that the
to the agenda, it was hoped that there would savings was also brought up at the Summit. wars will end and people will live in stability
be a common solution to the ongoing war and prosperity.
between Ukraine and Russia. “How thirst and hunger will cause more
significant migrations from Africa” was also The events we have lived and are going
The 25th Eurasian Economic Summit, in among the topics discussed. through have shown us once that the key to
which the Russian Federation and Ukraine the path to peace, stability and prosperity is
also took the floor, proved once again that it At the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit, “dialogue”. Dialogue, more dialogue...
is a truly free platform. the FOWPAL family also broke new ground

Another important topic addressed at the At the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit, the FOWPAL family also broke new gro-
25th Eurasian Economic Summit, attended und in the name of peace. The International Peace Bell was rung at the 25th Eu-
by the state, business and academia as well
as religious leaders, was the issue of food rasian Economic Summit with the wish that the wars will end and people will
and goods supply. live in stability and prosperity.

Speakers talked about the process of
change and transformation in global trade in
recent years. It was brought to the agenda at
the Summit that trade bans, embargoes and
protectionism have become widespread,
thus the understanding of supply has chan-
ged, raw material and commodity prices
have increased, and the logistics system has
deteriorated.

The issue of energy also took an impor-
tant place at the 25th Eurasian Economic
Summit, where the war between Ukraine
and Russia, the loss of Syria’s territorial in-
tegrity, the chaos in Iraq, the instability in
Lebanon and possible new tensions in the
Balkans were discussed.

143

HORSE RACE

The Eurasian Economic Summits Cup Race, which is
traditionally organized every year before Eurasian Economic

Summit, was organized by the Jockey Club of Türkiye

EURASIAN ECONOMIC
SUMMITS CUP RUN

The Eurasian Economic Summits Cup Race,
which has been organized by the Jockey Club of
Türkiye for 14 years, was held at the Veliefendi Hippod-
rome.  The horse named Villager Song, owned by Deniz
Kurtel and jockeyed by A. Aslan, won the Eurasian Eco-
nomic Summits Cup Race organized this year.
On behalf of Deniz Kurtel, Villager Song’s owner
Mehmet Demir was awarded the Cup by Asaf Hajiyev,
Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.
Dr. Akkan Suver also presented the Marmara Group
Foundation’s Memorial Gift to Mehmet Demir on behalf
of Deniz Kurtel. Cafer Okray, Dr Akkan Suver, Asaf
Hadjiev, Serdal Adalı, Engin Köklüçınar, Sezgin Bil-
giç,Oğuzhan Ceylan, Mahmut Saklı and Bilal Bilici to-
gether at the Eurasian Economic Summit Cup Race

144